The inaugural Gulfood Manufacturing is poised to generate significant inward investment in the regions rapidly expanding F&B manufacturing and production infrastructure after Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), the event organiser, revealed the dedicated F&B processing exhibition will host the regions largest-ever specialised Hosted Buyer Programme from 9-11 November, 2014.

As part of the biggest-ever regional trade show launch, the Gulfood Manufacturing Hosted Buyer Programme in partnership with Tetra Pak - the worlds leading food processing and packaging solutions company -will host industry representatives from both established and industry newcomers from the Middle East and Africa to conduct high level networking and investment-driven discussions across the regions food manufacturing sphere. Influential buyers will come from countries including Saudi Arabia, Kenya, Egypt, Turkey, South Africa, Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco, Libya, Iran and Nigeria amongst others.

Inward investment in the UAEs food manufacturing sector with Dubai and Abu Dhabi leading the charge - continues apace. With Al Islami Foods, a major Middle Eastern halal food producer, readying to open a new US$27.2million(AED99 million) food processing facility in Dubai Investment Park later this year,Khalifa Industrial Zone Abu Dhabi (Kizad)has inked deals with Brazil's BRF SA, the world's largest chicken exporter, for a US$150 million (AED547.5 million) processing plant, and Abu Dhabi's National Food Products Company (NFPC) for an AED1.5 billion (US$411 million) facility.
According to the latest report from Business Monitor International (BMI), inward investment has delivered strong growth in the UAEs domestic food retail market - the countrys mass gross retail sector now accounts for 69 per cent of the Middle Easts total food and drink market. With regional food sales expected to reach AED38.5 billion by 2015 - an increase of 36% on sales in 2011 - the community of international buyers at Gulfood Manufacturing will explore opportunities to expand business prospects in burgeoning regional food markets and companies.

The Gulfood Manufacturing Hosted Buyer Programme is designed to increase investment by enabling large multinational food producers to explore expansion avenues in the Middle East, and empoweringregional food manufacturers to respond to increased customer demand by replacing and upgrading production line equipment. The mammoth programme will ensure companies seeking the manufacturing business improvement tools needed to compete in increasingly competitive global markets make multi-million dollar investment decisions at the event.

The Gulfood Manufacturing Hosted Buyer Programme represents an exciting value-added proposition for exhibitors and visitors already committed to the biggest F&B processing event for the Middle East, Africa and Indian Sub-Continent industry, said Trixie LohMirmand, Senior Vice President, Exhibitions & Events Management, DWTC. With all the major international and fastest-growing regional F&B processors sourcing the latest manufacturing tools, technologies, equipment, ingredients and machinery, the Hosted Buyer Programme is expected to deliver significant inward investment in the regional F&B manufacturing segment.
Believed to be one of the largest initiatives of-its-type in the global F&B industry, the Gulfood Manufacturing Hosted Buyer Programme has been conceived to cater for an all-encompassing range of prospective clients from sectors including bakery, dairy, meat, fats, oils, seafood, beverages and confectionery.

Examining confectionary alone, the regional chocolate trade has been growing at brisk pace with Saudi Arabia and the UAE ranked the GCCs top two commodity importers of sweetened cocoa powder, chocolate and sugar confectionery products. According to Euromonitor, the UAE chocolate confectionery market is anticipated to reach AED1.07 billion in 2017.

From an exhibiting perspective, the show will feature more than 1,000 international suppliers from 32 countries displaying state-of-the-art machinery, innovative ingredients developed to meet new taste trends and innovative manufacturing processes, the latest packaging advances, as well as plant and factory designers behind the worlds leading production facilities. Leading food brands and trusted distributors will make up more than 10,000 regional and global trade visitors, of which 1,500 delegates will share the latest industry insights, market trends and state-of-the-art technology and product innovations in a cache of niche shows, conferences and technical workshops.

Open to applicants from around-the-world, the Hosted Buyer Programme will predominantly target buyers from across the Middle East and the African continent - although the geographical footprint of attendees will stretch as far north as Turkey and as far east as Pakistan.
The C-Level cast will be hand-picked by DWTC, Tetra Pak and a host of other exhibitors to ensure genuine influencers and purchasers are selected from Chairmen, CEOs, CFOs, Vice-Presidents and General Managers, to specific segment Directors overseeing Purchasing, Production, Processing, Logistics, Warehousing and Engineering divisions.

The commitment to our customers and their needs is at the forefront of everything we do at Tetra Pak, including innovations across our product and service portfolio. We are excited and looking forward to our participation at Gulfood Manufacturing under the theme Innovation for Growth and being the inaugural shows Hosted Buyer Programme partner," said Amar Zahid, President, Greater Middle East and Africa Region, Tetra Pak.
The Gulfood Manufacturing Hosted Buyer Programme will provide flights and two nights accommodation in a five-star hotel, as well as complimentary access to the Food & Beverage Industry Investment Summit running alongside the main exhibition, evening networking functions and breakfast briefings.

To apply for the Gulfood Manufacturing Hosted Buyer Programme, visit www.gulfoodmanufacturing.com. The application period is open until 15 October, 2015. Gulfood Manufacturing is open between 10am-6pm from 9-10 November and 10am-5pm on 11 November 2014 at DWTC. Visitor attendance is free of charge. For more information, visit the event website.