This year’s Eurofruit Congress Middle East saw 230 delegates from 30 countries congregate at the Shangri-La Hotel in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates, on 1-3 November. Sessions ranged from the potential of India as a source of fresh produce for the Middle East, to the state of the regional market following the effects of the economic crisis.
Elsewhere, Andriy Yarmak of Fruit-Inform in the Ukraine gave delegates an insight into the opportunities in Central Asia for Middle Eastern exporters, highlighting the large market of Kazakhstan as the most promising.
“Kazakhstan has seen imports of fresh produce nearly double every year since 2006,” he revealed. “Where there used to be just bazaars, supermarkets have entered the market and changed patterns of consumption in the country. Total imports reached 400,000 tonnes in 2009 and could climb as high as 500,000 tonnes for 2010.”
In addition to India, the Congress also looked at two other possible sources of fresh produce for the future: Catalonia and Morocco. Driss Dehbi of Dubai-based Alternatives General Trading told delegates that exports from UAE to Morocco currently totalled more than US$200m, whereas shipments in the other direction valued just $40m.
He said that the new port in Tangier, creating a direct shipping line from Morocco to Jebel Ali and to the Saudi Arabian city of Jeddah, could lead to an increase in volumes heading the other way. He also pointed out the great strides that Moroccan growers had made over the last few years, gaining certifications, improving quality and raising standards.
The final session of the Congress examined niches in the Middle East market, with particular attention paid to the opportunities that exist for ultra-fresh juices and fresh-cut products, as well as for locally and organically grown produce.
Finally, delegates were invited to take one of two local tours, to Al Aweer Fruit & Vegetable Wholesale Market, including a visit to the coldstores of Fresh Fruits Company (FFC) and Farzana Trading, or to the Emirates SkyCargo terminal, in order to further their understanding of what happens once a product enters the market and what occurs as it is being readied for airfreight overseas.
A full report on Eurofruit Congress Middle East 2010 will appear in the January issue of Eurofruit Magazine.
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