Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority Launches New ‘year of Giving’ Initiative for Sial Middle East

Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Presidential Affairs and Chairman of Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority (ADFCA), the 8th edition of SIAL Middle East 2017, the fastest-growing food, beverage and hospitality event in the MENA region, will be launched on the 12th of December at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre. 

Chairman of the organising committee of SIAL 2017, Thamer Al Qasemi, stressed the importance of SIAL Middle East in addressing the most important and prominent food supply issues in a press conference today at the Abu Dhabi Economic Media Club in the Department of Economic Development.

He said: “Innovative international production processes, strategies and quality products will be presented at SIAL this year to highlight the most important tools and plans to narrow the gap between supply and demand across the region, which is witnessing an increase in population, changing consumption patterns and rising income levels and adverse environmental changes.”

Al Qasemi unveiled a new initiative to donate food products from more than 60% of exhibitors at SIAL Middle East to the Preservation of Grace initiative, run by the UAE Red Crescent, to be distributed later to the needy and deprived sections of the community in line with the initiative of the Year of Giving; more than 400 local and international exhibitors will contribute. 

He added that the initiative reflects the keenness of the authority and its partners on participating in the charitable, humanitarian and developmental initiatives that the state has adopted, and seeks to promote these important initiatives locally and internationally.

Al Qasemi pointed out that SIAL 2017 will witness the organisation of a series of specialized sessions to discuss the latest trends in food and beverage sector.  “The Abu Dhabi International Date Palm Exhibition (ADDPE), sponsored by the Ministry of Presidential Affairs, is the world’s only dedicated B2B event for date palm fruit. ADDPE will be co-located with SIAL Middle East, offering a perfect opportunity for date palm fruit producers and suppliers to meet with leading names in the hospitality industry.

“The 2017 edition of the exhibition will allow onsite sales for the first time, paving the way for new business opportunities for both buyers and suppliers. The exhibition will host 80 date producers and suppliers from 12 countries, including pavilions from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Oman, Sudan, Morocco, Tunisia, Palestine and Jordan. It also offers a perfect opportunity for participants to have a look at the sector's future trends and to host the world's leading innovators of SIAL from around the world.”

H.E. Mohamed Hilal Al Muhairi, Director General of Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ADCCI), noted the importance of organising the Middle East Food Exhibition (SIAL) in Abu Dhabi for the third consecutive year. He also pointed out the importance of this exhibition as one of the most significant food exhibitions in the region and an important occasion for the world food companies to present their food industries and marketing these products in the markets of the region.

H.E. Al Muhairi stated: “This exhibition is a perfect opportunity for national and regional companies to discover the latest products produced by the world's food factories, and many of these companies consider SIAL as a platform for promoting their products and establishing new partnerships with companies in the UAE and the region.

“Our Government is working to develop and improve these sectors by encouraging private sector companies and institutions in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and the state to invest in, to achieve food security and meet the consumers' needs of these strategic food products.

“This exhibition is an important opportunity for our companies operating in these two sectors to cooperate with food producers and manufacturers to create industrial partnerships, as well as building factories to produce agricultural products and provide high quality food.”

Ali Al Saad, Director of Communications Office in Abu Dhabi Farmers' Services Centre (ADFSC), affirmed that SIAL Middle East is an important platform for those interested in food industries in the region. Adding that the exhibition is an opportunity for food manufacturers to meet traders and a suitable environment for those interested in investing in food activities to make local and international trade deals.

“We are proud to be the silver sponsor of SIAL and the golden sponsor of ADDPE due to the importance of these exhibitions in highlighting the name of the UAE and the Emirate of Abu Dhabi in the field of organizing exhibitions, especially food and agriculture exhibitions,” said Al Saad.

“We are working to strengthen the centre's role as a leading partner in achieving sustainable agricultural development, supporting local products and contributing to realising food security based on the local production of Abu Dhabi farms. ADFSC also seeks to highlight the story behind its ‘Local Harvest’ brand during SIAL activities.”

Al Saad clarified ADDPE plays an important role in developing the sales of farmers participating in the centre's stand, as ADFSC encourages visitors to buy local dates from exhibitors, and to support local products and farmers. He pointed out that ADFSC is keen to continue its annual support to sponsor several producers of dates to participate in the exhibition and provide all the necessary services to help them in promoting and selling their products to the public.

Meanwhile, Director of Promotions and Overseas Offices in the Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism, Mubarak Al Nuaimi, said that their participation in SIAL Middle East is an important contribution to consolidate Abu Dhabi's global position in food and beverage sector.

Said Al Nuami, “The exhibition comes in line with Abu Dhabi's vision to promote the Emirate as a sustainable destination for cultural and tourism, as well as improving food and beverage standards and promoting traditions of the authentic UAE hospitality.”

Al Nuaimi stressed the importance of this strategic cooperation between the Department of Culture and Tourism and ADFCA, to include SIAL Middle East, the fastest-growing food, beverage and hospitality event, in Abu Dhabi Food Festival 2017, providing all the features needed to organize a unique exhibition in food recipes across the emirate, in December.

Mosaab Abdo, Group Exhibition Manager for SIAL Middle East said: “It is extremely satisfying to see so many exhibitors – from 23 countries so far – committing to this generous initiative. We estimate that approximately 30 tonnes of food will be donated to food banks by the time SIAL ends and are actively encouraging as many of our 1072 participants as possible to donate to this worthy cause.”

Eng. Mohamed Omar Al Ameri, Acting Director at the Bureau of Industry Development, stressed the importance of SIAL Middle East in enhancing the government’s efforts to achieve food security in the UAE as well as promoting the event as a prominent platform for all food industry professionals in the region.

He pointed out that the Bureau of Industrial Development is a crucial aspect of its strategic plan to support the food industry sector within the framework of the Department of Economic Development’s willingness to achieve food security.

The year's edition is supported by host sponsor Abu Dhabi Chamber; diamond sponsor Jenaan Investments; silver sponsors Abu Dhabi Farmers' Service Center and Al- Rawafed; platinum sponsors, My Dubai and the Deep Seafood Company, and Halal Certificates sponsor, Emirates Authority for Standardization & Metrology.

The 8th edition of SIAL Middle East will host more than 24,000 experts in food sector, with an increase of more than 25% from the previous year, more than 400 exhibitors will be participating in ‘Year of Giving’ Initiative.