Activity in the health industry in the Middle East is building up with the second trade show in the region announced for this year.
Middle East Natural Products Expo takes place in Dubai in November and is being billed as one of the largest exhibitions in the region. More than 200 industry leaders from 40 countries are expected to participate in the three-day event, to be held at the Grand Hyatt InternationalConvention Center from 30 November - 2 December 2003.
The Middle East is said to be an up and coming and fast-growing market for natural and organic products, (worth over $150 billion globally) , and the exhibition is expected to attract over 5,000 visitors, including buyers, importers, distributorsandtraders from all over the Middle East, the Indian Sub- Continent, theLevantregion, North Africa and the CIS countries.
Organisers Globallinks say they have had overwhelming response from companies around the world regarding the event. Just yesterday we reported on the creation of a new trade association for the region, AMON, which aims to bring together members of the natural health and organic foods industry.
There has also been increasing interest in this sector from the governments of the region. The UAE Government, His Highness Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyanrecently established the ZayedComplex for Herbal Research and Traditional Medicine which hasbeen recognised by the World HealthOrganisation (WHO). Dubai has also recently unveiled plans for a $1.8 billion'Health City', which will incorporate natural spas, health resorts and a centreintegrating eastern medicines and alternative health programmes.
The show will be organised underthepatronage of the Ministry of Agriculture, the Zayed Complex forHerbalResearch and Traditional Medicine, and with participation ofinternationalassociations.
The exhibitor profile includes natural cosmetics, organic foods, natural herbal products, alternative and traditional medicine and dietary supplements.