The 3rd Seafood Expo 2009 – Dubai witnessed an increase in exhibitor numbers this year, highlighting the fortitude of the region’s seafood industry.
The fair demonstrated “tremendous growth”, according to Nafees Ahmed, director of show organiser Orange Fairs and Events.
“This is the only platform in the Middle East for this industry,” noted Ahmed. “Exhibitors have been impressed with the quality of visitors and they have been successfully closing deals.”
Ahmed pointed to the growing interest in the region’s seafood market from Chinese firms, highlighting the contingent’s growth from three companies at last year’s show to 18 companies at the 2009 edition.
Canadian Sable Fish Association marketing director Mark Baggio, who was exhibiting at the Madinat Jumeirah event, said the quality of the show’s visitors had been of a high level.
“This show has been good, especially for airline contacts,” noted Baggio. “While other shows we normally attend, such as those in Brussels or China, tend to be busier, this show has been really focused on quality, with many buyers present.”
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Last year’s show saw approximately US $5-6 million worth of business take place, according to its organisers.
“We are expecting that figure to have increased at this year’s show,” said Orange Fairs and Events’ Ahmed. “A lot of deals took place at this expo.”
Ahmed went so far as to predict that the final figure, in terms of deals effected at the Seafood Expo would come close to the US $10-11 million mark.
Laurence Cook, director of corporate communications at Saudi Arabian-based seafood firm National Prawn Company, commented: “This is an important show for us. Dubai is a market we like — but other markets in the region are a bit slow.
“We would liked to have seen more chefs however, as we are really looking for end-users,” he added.
Orange Fairs and Events remained bullish, declaring the show a success and on track for expansion in future.
“It is a growing industry and we want to gbuild this show to around 500 exhibitors — especially if we can get the World Trade Centre as a venue,” declared Orange Fairs and Events’ Ahmed.
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