UAE food scene evokes interest

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UAE food scene evokes interest
A visitor samples cheese at the Italian pavilion during Gulfood 2018.

dubai - Food exporters want to increase the volume of exports to the country to support the booming gastronomy scene

by

Rohma Sadaqat

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Published: Thu 22 Feb 2018, 6:42 PM

Last updated: Thu 22 Feb 2018, 8:44 PM

As the UAE firmly places itself on the international map for quality cuisine and fine dining, international exporters at Gulfood 2018 say they are looking to increase the volume of their food exports to the country to support the booming gastronomy scene.

Speaking to Khaleej Times, Gianpaolo Bruno, Italian Trade Commissioner to the UAE, Oman and Pakistan, said 190 Italian companies are taking part at this year's edition, which is around 30 more than last year. The interest in Italian products, he said, is growing, and more people are becoming aware about the authenticity of Italian food products.

"The number of Italian restaurants in the emirates is also growing, and we have around 300 operating presently," he said. "People like Italian food, which is a reflection of the Italian lifestyle. They are more aware about the health benefits of the Mediterranean way of life. Our products incorporate the healthy way of life, along with the attention to the quality of the ingredients."

He added: "Italian food products exported to the UAE are currently worth around ?320 million, but we see the potential for further growth. This is because the UAE, and Dubai in particular, is a hub for the rest of the GCC and Mena region, when it comes to food trading."

In 2016, the UAE was named the most important country in the Mena region for Italy's agriculture and F&B exports, where total Italian exports to the country amounted to Dh1.3 billion, while Italy's imports from the UAE were worth more than ?2 million. In the last 10 years, Italian sales to the UAE almost quadrupled, given the strong demand from residents and tourists alike for quality and healthy food.

Jean-Paul Tarud K, ambassador of Chile, also spoke to Khaleej Times about trade between Chile and the UAE, and how the demand for healthier products is impacting exports.

"Our trade with the UAE has diversified over the years," he said. "One of the most popular products that we export is salmon. Chilean salmon has 70 per cent of the market share currently. In addition to this, we have noticed a tremendous increase in dried fruits and nuts. This region has always had a rich history with such products and we have seen an exponential growth in the sector last year, especially during the month of Ramadan."

Alejandro Buvinic, director of ProChile, said there is a huge drive towards healthier foods in the region, which is in line with international trends.

"The trend right now is towards organic products and almost all our products fall within this category because of how rich our soil is," he informed. "We hardly use pesticides and this is something that consumers are more careful about today. They are more mindful about what they are eating, where it comes from and how it is produced. We saw a 270 per cent increase in our exports of nuts to the UAE alone. We also saw an impressive increase in our exports of avocados."

Similarly, Alvaro Silva-Santisteban F., director of the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism of Peru, said the UAE currently ranks 17th in total global Peruvian exports. "We saw a 38 per cent increase in total exports in January to November 2017, when compared to the same period in 2016. Our non-traditional exports to the UAE, which include superfoods, have grown by 69 per cent during that time."

- rohma@khaleejtimes.com


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