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DUBAI / WAM
Expo 2020 Dubai’s highly
successful BusinessConnect F&B session has marked the first step on the journey to Expo for small and medium sized enterprises, SMEs, in the food and beverage sector.
The session, which saw more than 100 SMEs take part, outlined the food and beverage pathway and timeline, including encouraging them to sign up to the Expo 2020 Dubai e-Sourcing portal so they can keep track of all the current and upcoming procurement opportunities.
These opportunities include taking a share of an estimated AED2 billion in onsite food and beverage sales generated by visitors attending Expo from October 20, 2020 to April 10, 2021. In addition to this, an estimated five million meals will be needed to keep the Expo 2020 workforce fed during the six months of Expo.
Manal AlBayat, Senior Vice President, Business Development and Integration at Expo 2020 Dubai, said, “This BusinessConnect F&B session is just the beginning of the journey for SMEs in the food and beverage sector to Expo 2020 Dubai. Not only does it enable us to explain timelines and present opportunities to the SMEs, we also get to hear their questions and incorporate their feedback into our planning.â€
At peak, up to 85,000 meals are expected to be served per hour during Expo 2020 Dubai, across 30,000 square metres of front-of-house space for food and beverages.
As a result, Expo will be a major opportunity for F&B firms, as well as a chance
to showcase the many cuisines and cultural diversity of UAE.
Expo 2020 Dubai is committed to supporting the SME sector across the region as part of its plans for a lasting economic legacy.