Omani firms attract participants at Gulfood exhibition

Muscat: Oman is participating at one of the world’s largest annual food and hospitality events, Gulfood 2017, in Dubai, which started on Sunday.
The Public Establishment for Industrial Estates (PEIE) is representing Oman in the exhibition.
Hamood Al Balushi, Director of Omani Products’ Department at the PEIE, said the Gulfood exhibition receives an overwhelming turnout every year in terms of investors, businessmen and producers related to the food industry, in addition to the mega marketing and media campaign associated with the event.
“All these factors present significant opportunities for the participating Omani firms under the Sultanate’s pavilion or those participating in their individual capacity to achieve positive outcomes that would contribute to expanding their export targets as well as develop the technology used in the manufacturing phases,” Al Balushi said.
“The PEIE’s participation in the event is in line with its activities to promote the Origin Oman campaign inside and outside the Sultanate. Through participating in these events, the PEIE aspires to explore new markets for the locally manufactured products to contribute to the advancement of the national economy,” he added.
The companies participating under the umbrella of the PEIE at Gulfood 2017 stressed the importance of being present at this prominent event, which leaves a significantly positive impact on the company and brings Omani products to the attention of a larger audience in the region. Malallah Al Hamadani, director of marketing at Oman Foodstuff Factory (Al Mudhish), mentioned that by participating in this event, the company aims to promote its products and expand its exports. “We also aim at acquainting ourselves with the latest trends in the food industry. Such exhibitions play a pivotal role in opening new horizons for the companies and forming closer relations between the consumer and the producer,” Al Hamadani noted.
Anas Al Shanfari, Director of Marketing at A’Saffa Foods, emphasised that the pavilion representing the Sultanate this year is attracting bigger audiences because it was spread out on a larger area.
“Guldfood 2017 allows the Omani firms to underscore Omani products and explore new regional and global markets. Understanding various regional and global experiences from a closer proximity at this platform gives us a boost to explore the brand-new technologies utilised in the food industry that will help develop the performance and production lines,” said Hilal Al Hosni, Assistant General Manager at the Modern Dairy Factory.
Several Omani companies specialised in the food industry are taking part this year under the umbrella of PEIE, including Dhofar Poultry, A’Saffa Foods, Omani Vegetable Oils and Derivatives, Modern Dairy Factory, Salalah Macaroni, Areej Vegetable Oils and Derivatives, Salalah Mills, Oman Foodstuff Factory, and Sweets of Oman Company.
Gulfood 2017 is witnessing the participation of 120 countries including Malta, Finland and Slovakia. Heads of state, ministers, government officials and representatives of trade associations are expected to visit the exhibition. Gulfood 2017 is witnessing the participation of over 5,000 local, regional and international companies.