Dubai: Gulfood Manufacturing 2015 will bring together international players in the food manufacturing, processing and packaging industries when it opens in Dubai on Tuesday.

The three-day trade event at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) is expected to feature 1,500 exhibitors including suppliers, manufacturers and distributors of food and beverage processing equipment and services. International government ministers and top level trade delegations, as well as global leaders in the food and beverage industry, will also attend this exhibition.

More than 30,000 visitors from the Middle East, Africa and South East Asia (MEASA) are expected to attend the show.

“It is clear from the immediate growth of Gulfood Manufacturing in just one year that the market potential across the region is attracting strong interest from the global food manufacturing industry. This year we will welcome more than 1,500 exhibitors to the show, an increase of over 35 per cent on the previous year, and representation in every sector of the industry value chain,” said Trixie LohMirmand, Senior Vice-President, Exhibitions & Events at DWTC, in a statement.

Among the exhibitors are Cargill Europe BVBA, Döhler Middle East, CSM Deutschland GmbH and Symrise. Players in the specialist sectors of the food and beverage industry, such as halal foods, health drinks and functional foods and beverages, will also be present.

Three conferences will also be running alongside Gulfood Manufacturing, covering the opportunities and challenges of the region’s food and beverage industry.

Next Generation Manufacturing, which will run on the first day of the event, will touch on how to facilitate growth in the food and beverage industry and safeguarding the health and safety of manufacturing facilities, among other topics.

Food Logistics and Food and Beverage Innovation will take place on Wednesday and Thursday. Food Logistics will cover topics including accelerating the food supply chain in the GCC and improving the regulatory environment in the region, among others. Food and Beverage Innovation, meanwhile, will touch on the key drivers and technology trends behind food and beverage companies and developing a nutrition strategy that is locally relevant, among other topics.

Gulfood, the region’s leading food exhibition, takes place annually in February.