Middle East
East Asian interest in Middle East food and hotel market 'at an all time high'
By ameinfo.com
Mar 23, 2006, 17:13

East Asian interest in Middle East food and hotel market 'at an all time high'

Industry players from the Middle East's food and hospitality sector will be traveling to a major East Asian food and hospitality event in Singapore next month, underlining the increasing levels of commercial exchange between the two regions.

Asian food sales have reached a record high in the Middle East.

Food&HotelAsia2006 (FHA2006), a major hospitality exhibition to be held in Singapore from 25-28 April 2006, has seen an increase in the number of Middle Eastern visitors in recent years. More than 100 Middle Eastern trade visitors attended the show in 2004, a 15 per cent increase from FHA2002.

These companies reflect rising interest among Middle East buyers, who look toward the Asian market when sourcing for their food and hospitality business needs. The Middle East, which imports approximately 90 percent of its food from overseas, has long been a major market for East Asian food and beverage companies.
In recent years, it has also welcomed rising numbers of travelers from East Asia, who are attracted by the world class standards of hospitality and rising numbers of famous hotels. According to the World Tourism Organization (WTO), 35 million tourists visited the Middle East in 2004.

This year, Dubai is leading a delegation of chefs to compete in the Culinary Challenge, which is held as part of Food&HotelAsia2006. A team comprising of a chef, a waiter, and a bartender, will participate in the Dream Team Challenge. Nine other chefs have also registered to take part in the Individual Challenge featuring 15 classes of competition.

The delegation of chefs includes a pair of brothers who work in two restaurants located in the world renowned luxury hotel, the Burj al-Arab.

This is the third time Dubai has participated in the cooking competition. Moritz Schubert, Executive Sous Chef in the Madinat Jumeirah resort, is coordinating the team's trip to what he describes as 'one of the most established competitions in the world.'

'Singapore is quite famous for her competitions. In Singapore, you know there's a high standard of food quality and artists,' Schubert said. 'All the young members are looking for new challenge for motivation and see what we can reach.'

Singapore, an island city-state and the smallest country in Southeast Asia, is a thriving financial and industrial centre. It developed from a coastal town dating back to the 14th century, to become a multicultural global city, and a major centre for trade, communications and tourism.

Big increase in Halal food exhibitors at food show

Halal food products are among the features of this year's show. FHA2006 has seen a big increase in the number of Halal exhibitors, from 56 in the previous show in 2004, to 138 this year, a whopping increase of 146 per cent.

While Halal food exhibits have always been featured at the show, this is the first time a Halal food pavilion is being set up. Of the Halal food and services exhibitors, 25 will be grouped in the 225 sq m Halal pavilion, with the rest taking up booths elsewhere in the show.

The pavilion comprises two aspects: one for Halal food and beverages, while the other focuses on business aspects of the Halal food business, such as consultancy and financial services.

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