JEDDAH: Deals worth more than SR120 million were signed during an exhibition titled “food arabia,” “hotel arabia” and “propac arabia” at Jeddah Center for Forums and Events, which concluded yesterday.
Organized with the support of the Organization of the Islamic Conference and the Islamic Development Bank, the four-day exhibition attracted more than 15,000 visitors.
As many as 280 national and international companies took part in the exhibition that highlighted the progress achieved by the food, hotel and packaging industry.
A number of lectures were held on the sidelines of the show. Mohammed Al-Amri and Ahmed Al-Eissa of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities spoke on investment opportunities in hotels and quality hotel services respectively.
A competition was held to select the best cook, organized by Al-Harithy Company for Exhibitions and Saudi Chefs Association (SCA). Prominent cooks from different hotels and restaurants took part in the contest.
The exhibition also witnessed a display of chocolates, table arrangements and innovative methods of receiving guests.
International Saudi chef Yasser Jadd, president of the SCA, said 187 chefs from 25 countries as well as prominent chefs from five-star hotels and prominent restaurants in Saudi Arabia took part in the competition.
Jadd said the chefs displayed their skills in preparing various food items including cakes and sweets.
“The competition was organized to improve the standard of chefs and encouraging them to cope with international standards,” he said. A number of international judges were invited to pick the winners in the presence of a large number of experts and families. He said members of jury had expressed their admiration of Saudi foodstuffs.
The exhibition included pavilions from China, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Jordan, Thailand, Turkey and UAE and individual exhibitors from Armenia, Africa, India, Korea, Lebanon, Pakistan, Senegal, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria, Uganda, Yemen and the United States.
The objectives of this first time event are development of trade among the Islamic countries, exchange of expertise and knowledge, provide investment opportunities and maintain strategically closer commercial relations among the OIC members and other countries worldwide.