As leading international food processing and packaging machinery manufacturers target the Middle East as an increasingly important export market, a host of global technology pioneers have highlighted a diverse range of cutting-edge processing, packaging and manufacturing solutions at this weeks inaugural Gulfood Manufacturing the largest dedicated food processing trade event in the Middle East, Africa and South East Asia (MEASA).

According to the VDMA, the German Engineering Federation, the value of sector-related imports across the Middle East reached AED6.49 billion (1.4 billion) in 2013. In the same year, the UAE alone imported food processing and packaging machinery to the value of AED1.16 million (251 million).

With Gulfood Manufacturing offering a unique one-stop-shop proposition for regional food processors to source the latest ingredients, processing machinery, packaging equipment and logistics, warehousing and cold chain solutions to enable faster, cheaper and cost-effective production of safer and more reliable products, more than 1,100 global companies have lined up to showcase an array of fully-automated and customised processing and packaging industrial systems at the show.

Processed or pre-packaged food now accounts for more than 50 per cent of the GCC food industry, which has led to a renewed drive for efficient manufacturing equipment that increases productivity, reduces staffing costs and caters for more hygienic and sustainable processed goods, said Trixie LohMirmand, Senior Vice President, Exhibitions & Events Management, Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), the show organiser.

The Middle East is rightly viewed as a key growth territory for the global food processing, packaging and manufacturing sectors. Gulfood Manufacturing provides international machinery, equipment, logistics and cold chain suppliers with a tailored investment platform to gain an operational foothold in one of the worlds fastest growing markets and also delivers a specialist trade event for regional food industry producers to invest in business improvement tools to save costs and increase revenues in the ultra-competitive global food trade industry.

As a vessel conceived to spur growth and drive inward investment, Gulfood Manufacturing has leveraged Dubais strategic position as a recognised manufacturing and logistics gateway between East and West and the primary re-export hub to emerging countries and economies across MEASA.

With GCC food imports forecast to reach US$53.1 billion by 2020 according to a report by the Economist Intelligence Unit, the spin-off Gulfood Manufacturing event has reversed the finished foods focus of Februarys annual Gulfood showcase and, instead, highlighted the regions ripe business potential as a leading international manufacturing and processing hub.

DWTCs largest-ever trade show debut, Gulfood Manufacturing has featured a world-class line-up of international brands including IFFCO, Cargill Europe BVBA, Markel Bakery Group, Bosch Packaging, Multivac, TNA Packing Solutions, Ishida Europe Ltd., Dhler Middle East and CSM Deutschland GmbH. The show boasted more than 24 national pavilions including its Official Country Partner, Germany, Egypt, Turkey, Jordan, Lebanon, Iran, Switzerland, Taiwan, China, Thailand, India, Italy, Austria, France, the USA and the UK.