Abdulla Mohamed Al Mazrui, chairman of Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ADCCI), highlighted the growth in the Food and Beverage (F&B) and Hospitality sector in Abu Dhabi, and the importance of the Abu Dhabi International Food Exhibition (ADIFE) in supporting this growth.
He said: “The first edition of the Abu Dhabi International Food Exhibition plays a key role in supporting the development of the F&B sector in Abu Dhabi and increasing its competitiveness. The F&B industry has already seen a major growth over the past few years, which was driven by the strong performance in the tourism industry and the rapid expansion in the emirate’s real estate stock, including hotels, residential units, and commercial segments.
As per the latest figures from Abu Dhabi Chamber’s membership database, from 2018 to 2022, new membership registrations at Abu Dhabi Chamber in the F&B and Hospitality sector maintained growth at a CAGR of 22.2 percent to hit a record 1,339 new registrations. Furthermore, according to the latest data from the Statistics Centre Abu Dhabi (SCAD), Abu Dhabi’s foreign trade activity in F&B products increased at 3.7 percent y-o-y in 2021, to reach $4.5 billion, where the growth in the emirate’s F&B trade was driven by strong exports activity.”
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“The UAE has launched its National Food Security Strategy 2051, which aims to position the country as a world-leading hub in innovation-driven food security and ensuring food security under all circumstances, by enabling technology-based production and supply of food, promoting international trade partnerships, and enforcing policies and regulations to enhance nutritional intake and reduce food loss and waste. With the government’s continued commitment to invest in agritech start-ups and the ongoing recovery in tourism activity, the F&B sector is expected to see further growth,” Al Mazrui added.
Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Presidential Court, and Chairman of the Board of Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (ADAFSA), the first edition of the Abu Dhabi International Food Exhibition is held from 6 to 8 December 2022, at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC). The event brings major companies specialising in the food, beverage and hospitality sectors together, in addition to many experts, specialists, and decision-makers in this vital industry.
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