Troy L. Milliron 
(MENAFN-Mid-East.Info)
With 200 million euros of F&B products exported to the United Arab Emirates, Italy will be represented by 180 companies at the fair
Dubai, United Arab Emirates: Italy will provide Gulfood visitors with an incredible gastronomic experience with a packed schedule of live cooking shows and tasting sessions at the Italian Food Lab. Located in Sheikh Saeed Hall 1, the Italian Food Lab‘s open kitchen will host some of the most celebrated Italian chefs working in the UAE who will prepare traditional and modern Italian dishes using only authentic Italian ingredients.
Organized by the Italian Trade Agency, in collaboration with the Italian Embassy in the United Arab Emirates and the Consulate General in Dubai, the Italian food laboratory will be part of the Italian pavilion at Gulfood, the largest annual F&B exhibition which has opened its opens today and will run until February 17 at the Dubai World Trade Centre.
The Italian Food Lab initiative is part of the “Italy is simply extraordinary #beIT” campaign, which encourages the conscious consumption of authentic Made in Italy products
During the 5-day event, Michelin Start chefs like Heinz Beck will showcase their cooking skills and share their top tips for preparing authentic Italian dishes. Visitors to Gulfood will discover the sincerity and authenticity of Italian cuisine which harmoniously combines tasty and healthy food.
Italy features a wide variety of Italian products such as baked goods, ice cream, canned fruit, preserves, gourmet and frozen foods, olive oils, coffee, juices, cereals and snacks, with 180 companies participating in Gulfood.
Italian cuisine is a favorite of UAE residents and this is reflected in the trade in F&B products between Italy and the UAE;
Amedee Scarpa, The Italian Trade Commissioner in the United Arab Emirates, said: “With an average annual F&B export of €200 million, Italy continues to be one of the most important suppliers to the UAE, with the total amount of agri-food exports to the UAE reaching €189 million in 2021, i.e. an increase of +27% over the same period of 2020 and +4.5% over 2019
“Italian food products are appreciated all over the world for their diversity, taste and quality.
Italy’s global agri-food exports hit a record high of over €52 billion, up 11%, and the UAE is one of our most important trading partners. Italian beverages (€38 mln), flour and bakery products (€33 mln) and cocoa and cocoa products (€19.5 mln) are the most demanded categories by the UAE market. Animal and vegetable oils and fats recorded a peak in demand (+ 133% compared to 2020) while the import of fish, crustaceans and molluscs has continued to grow over the past 2 years with + 106% variations in the value of imported goods in 2019”.
The success of Made in Italy is also based on green agriculture, the most organic in Europe with more than 80,000 employees, the highest number of PDOs (Protected Designation of Origin in EU countries and more than 5,000 traditional food products.
The Italian Trade Agency has invited local and Italian experts to discuss the future of the food industry and agribusiness at two innovation talks taking place at the Italy Pavilion at the Expo 2020:
- Sunday February 13: “The future of the Italian food system between innovation, safety and sustainability”
- Wednesday February 16: “Italian technologies for sustainable agriculture and the circular economy”
About Italian Trade Agency – ITA:
The Italian Trade Agency is the government agency that promotes the globalization of Italian companies, under the aegis of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. ITA helps to develop, facilitate and promote Italian economic and commercial relations with foreign countries, focusing on the needs of SMEs, their associations and partnerships. ITA supports Italian companies in their internationalization process, promoting the marketing of Italian goods and services as well as the image of “Made in Italy” products in the world, while facilitating Italian investments abroad and encouraging the attraction of FDI in Italy. ITA provides information, support and advisory services to Italian companies in foreign markets, in order to promote exports and economic cooperation in all sectors, with the aim of increasing the effectiveness of their presence in the markets international. ITA works closely with the Italian regions, the network of Italian Chambers of Commerce, professional organizations and other public and private entities. ITA’s headquarters are based in Rome and it works through an extensive network of offices around the world which are recognized as “Trade Promotion Offices” of Italian Embassies or Consulates.
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