Hokkaido brings its finest to the UAE
dubai — Japan’s total food exports to the world stands at more than $7 billion in 2016, according to Junji Nakao, Director, JETRO Dubai (Japan External Trade Organisation).
Japan’s total foodstuff exports to the UAE in 2016 was valued at $51 million, just 0.7 per cent of Japan’s total food exports to the world.According to JETRO figures, exports to the UAE in 2016 consisted of beverages like carbonated drinks that amounted to $29 million. The remaining included confectionery, meat and meat products, fish and seafood and a host of other products and food ingredients.
Export of meat showed a growth of 68 per cent compared to the previous year. Likewise, foods like rice, tuna, miso, soy sauce etc., also showed considerable growth in exports. JETRO is now promoting Japanese food and food ingredients to this region and is trying to make Japanese food more familiar to the UAE.
The Embassy of Japan, Hokkaido Government and Hokkaido Food Industry Promotion Organisation hosted the Hokkaido Food Fair recently at the Ambassador of Japan to the UAE Kanji Fujiki’s residence for the first time in Abu Dhabi. Dr Rashid Mohammad Al Shariqi, Director General of Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority, was the guest of honour at the event. At the fair, sushi, ramen, Hokkaido halal beef, seafood and confectionery were on display for guests to taste.
The Hokkaido Food Industry Promotion Organisation was established with the purpose of familiarising Hokkaido food products to the world. “We have been working in the Middle East for the past five years and this is our very first food fair in Abu Dhabi. We want to introduce and promote the splendour of Hokkaido food products to the UAE,” said Ryosuke Kobayashi, executive vicepresident, Hokkaido Food Industry Promotion Organisation.
— suchitra@khaleejtimes.com