» Positioning B2B Northern Gulf – Target audience

food + hospitality middle east – strictly B2B - is being launched to meet the strong demand from the Northern Gulf countries. The event targets to become a focused meeting point for the food, beverages and hospitality industry of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar.

It is at food + hospitality middle east 08 in Bahrain where professionals from the food industry and food trade, hotels, restaurants, supermarkets, grocery stores, bakeries and fast food outlets, wholesalers and retailers meet up with leading international producers and resellers of foodstuffs, beverages and of hospitality and catering equipment to network and do business. 

» Excellent market opportunities:
   GCC food imports amount to US$ 15 billion

Currently, GCC states import around US$15 billion worth of food products annually or about 90 percent of their total food needs. Based on projected trends, these imports are expected to increase 10 to 15 percent annually over the next few years.
 
With a population of 24 million, Saudi Arabia is the biggest importer of food products. In 2006, food imports of the Kingdom exceeded US$ 8 billion for the first time. In the same year, Saudi food exports reached US$ 480 million, mainly to neighbouring GCC states. Saudi Arabia is also going to open up for traditional tourism and implements multi-billion hotel projects at the Red Sea, in addition to the traditional pilgrims to Mecca.
 
Apart from Saudi Arabia and the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar are major markets for food exporters and suppliers of hospitality equipment. With the current expansion of leading properties in the Gulf region, the inventory of hotel rooms in these countries will be significantly boosted over the next two years. Many cafés and restaurants will also be built over the coming months.

The combination of a growing population, high per capita incomes, expanding tourism, liberal trade policies and limited agricultural production offers excellent market opportunities.