UNDER the patronage of Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Presidential Affairs and Chairman of Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority (ADFCA), the 8th edition of SIAL Middle East 2017, the fastest-growing food, beverage and hospitality event in the MENA region, will be launched on Dec. 12 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre. Chairman of the organizing committee of SIAL 2017, Thamer Al Qasemi, stressed the importance of SIAL Middle East in addressing the most important and prominent food supply issues in a press conference today at the Abu Dhabi Economic Media Club in the Department of Economic Development. He said: “Innovative international production processes, strategies and quality products will be presented at SIAL this year to highlight the most important tools and plans to narrow the gap between supply and demand across the region, which is witnessing an increase in population, changing consumption patterns and rising income levels and adverse environmental changes.” Al Qasemi unveiled a new initiative to donate food products from more than 60% of exhibitors at SIAL Middle East to the Preservation of Grace initiative, run by the UAE Red Crescent, to be distributed later to the needy and deprived sections of the community in line with the initiative of the Year of Giving; more than 400 local and international exhibitors will contribute. He added that the initiative reflects the keenness of the authority and its partners on participating in the charitable, humanitarian and developmental initiatives that the state has adopted, and seeks to promote these important initiatives locally and internationally. Al Qasemi pointed out that SIAL 2017 will witness the zs the latest trends in food and beverage sector. “The Abu Dhabi International Date Palm Exhibition (ADDPE), sponsored by the Ministry of Presidential Affairs, is the world’s only dedicated B2B event for date palm fruit. ADDPE will be co-located with SIAL Middle East, offering a perfect opportunity for date palm fruit producers and suppliers to meet with leading names in the hospitality industry. “The 2017 edition of the exhibition will allow onsite sales for the first time, paving the way for new business opportunities for both buyers and suppliers. The exhibition will host 80 date producers and suppliers from 12 countries, including pavilions from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Oman, Sudan, Morocco, Tunisia, Palestine and Jordan. It also offers a perfect opportunity for participants to have a look at the sector's future trends and to host the world's leading innovators of SIAL from around the world.” Mohamed Hilal Al Muhairi, Director General of Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ADCCI), noted the importance of organizing the Middle East Food Exhibition (SIAL) in Abu Dhabi for the third consecutive year. He also pointed out the importance of this exhibition as one of the most significant food exhibitions in the region and an important occasion for the world food companies to present their food industries and marketing these products in the markets of the region. — SG