Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum (middle), Deputy Ruler of Dubai and UAE Minister of Finance; Sheikha Lubna bint Khalid Al Qasimi (right), UAE Minister for Foreign Trade, with country ministers, ambassadors and dignitaries during the opening of Gulfood 2013 Monday. The four-day Gulfood 2013, the 18th edition of Gulfood, was inaugurated Monday by Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and UAE Minister of Finance, in the presence of Sheikha Lubna bint Khalid Al Qasimi, UAE Minister for Foreign Trade, country ministers, ambassadors and dignitaries from around the world, highlighting the importance and stature of the world's largest annual food and hospitality trade event. The event welcomed tens of thousands of trade visitors from all around the world on its first day at the Dubai World Trade Centre. With record exhibition space of 113,398m² hosting 4,200 companies from 110 countries, Gulfood 2013 is the largest and most international show in the event's history. “We thank His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE ministers and foreign dignitaries for their support of Gulfood 2013, an event that has grown consistently over the last 26 years to become a significant driver of food and beverage trade for global markets. The presence of government ministers and top level trade delegations from around the world is also testament to this fact, as is the continued interest from both large and small F&B companies to participate in the show. It is clear that Gulfood delivers substantial business contracts and facilitates unrivaled trade opportunities for both regional and international businesses,” said Helal Saeed Almarri, Director General, Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) and CEO, Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), organizer of Gulfood. Following the inauguration, government ministers and heads of international trade delegations from over 14 countries conducted bilateral talks at the Ministers Meet. Gulfood 2013 welcomes more than 1,400 new exhibitors, ensuring an unparalleled range of new products and technology solutions available to buyers from each sector of the food and hospitality spectrum. – SG
