Dubai, UAE – Her Excellency Valentina Setta, Consul General of Italy in Dubai, was joined by Amedeo Scarpa, Italian Trade Commissioner to the UAE and Director of ITA Dubai Office, as they visited the ITAlian Food Lab at Gulfood 2020 and met participating Italian companies at the region’s largest food show.
At the ITAlian Food Lab organized by ITA – Italian Trade Agency, popular UAE based Italian Chefs specialized in Italian cuisine, demonstrated how to cook delicious Italian dishes with sustainable ingredients using traditional recipes, to provide a wholesome meal in line with the principles of Mediterranean diet. The exciting line up of Chefs participating in this year’s ITAlian Food Lab include Giorgio Minnone, Andrea Brugnetti, Giacomo Gallina, Alfredo Albergatore, Francesco Bucca, Salvo Sardo, Davide Gardini and Matteo Mirandola. They served up delicious dishes such as Cappellacci with Truffles, Red Pumpkin Risotto, Paccheri eggplants, basil and Buffalo Mozzarella, Turbot fish in Topinambur raw olive oil, Gluten free Pasta with zucchini, pine nuts and creamy cheese.
Italian food trade with UAE is growing at double digit figures year-on-year. Italy is one of the global giants in terms of agriculture and F&B products exports with its almost 50 billion US$ value exported yearly.
According to Amedeo Scarpa, Italian Trade Commissioner to the UAE and Director of ITA Dubai Office: “In the first nine months of 2019, Italian F&B export grew by 5.3% worldwide (from 30 billion euro to 31.7 billion euro), the export increase to UAE was almost 5 times higher at +24%. Besides that, the margins are still there, considering that the total value of Italian export to the UAE was 220 million euros. In our view there is an increasing demand of gourmet Italian food and high-quality Italian food ingredients and beverages in the UAE and GCC, since consumers are more and more oriented towards healthy, quality and safe choices.
“We are excited to be in Gulfood, Italy’s food production eco-system mostly consists of SMEs and family owned businesses, and events such as Gulfood give them a platform to meet importers, suppliers and distributors from across the region. Italian food exports to the UAE and GCC have grown steadily over the past few years. There is also a growing Italian restaurant food scene here, which shows the popularity of Italian cuisine in this region.”
The Italian food industry is committed to sustainability and educating consumers of healthy diet and lifestyle. At the ITAlian Food Lab, visitors found Chefs cooking dishes using sustainable ingredients, culminating in zero wastage. There are over 200 Italian companies participated in Gulfood this year and many of them showcased healthy alternatives for people with food allergies and intolerances. There is also a varied display of ‘free from’ and organic food ingredients.
Talking about Italy’s participation in the upcoming Expo 2020, Amedeo Scarpa said, “Italy’s participation in Expo 2020 Dubai will have a holistic approach and our motto will be ‘Beauty connects People’. ‘Made in Italy’ label products bring expertise, tradition, creativity and beauty. That’s why we are convinced that the good and healthy food will help to easily connect good and healthy people, with Italy at Expo 2020. And Buon Appetito with us!”
Visitors to Italian stands spread across various dedicated sections in Gulfood, enjoyed a wide display of pasta, truffles, dairy products, canned produce, bread and baking items, biscuits, sweets and snacks, seafood, oils and fats, condiments such as vinegar, coffee and beverages.
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