Australian food companies planning to export high quality products to the lucrative Dubai food service sector can now refer to a web-based toolkit for help with decision making.
Australian Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Peter McGauran, today officially launched 8 Steps to Dubai during a briefing to Australian exhibitors at Gulfood 2007, the Middle East’s largest food and hospitality event.
8 Steps to Dubai builds on the success of the Dubai food service platform which began in 2004 as a collaborative project involving NFIS Ltd, Austrade, Food South Australia, the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF), the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), other state government departments and agencies, and the Australian food industry.
Dr Susan Nelle, Managing Director of NFIS Ltd said the toolkit gives all Australian food producers and processors easy access to the lessons learned from the Dubai food service platform.
“The platform has successfully established a direct chain from Australian premium food producers and suppliers into Dubai’s burgeoning 4-, 5- and 7-star hotel industry, top resorts, palaces and catering operations,” said Dr Nelle.
“It highlights the benefit of collaboration between federal and state governments and Australian food companies in establishing a long-term sustainable position for high-quality Australian products in a traditionally tough market.
“It’s also an economic success - so far generating around $30 million in exports – and the number of companies exporting to Dubai through the platform has increased from the original 15 to more than 80.
“Australian product is also now being re-exported from Dubai to other Gulf region countries and to as far afield as India and Russia.”
Dr Nelle said the 8 Steps to Dubai toolkit, with its emphasis on consistency in product quality and supply, will help other Australian companies to compete in the increasingly important Gulf region market.
The Dubai toolkit can be accessed at www.nfis.com.au/dubai
Principal documents from the similar toolkit 8 Steps to India have been downloaded more than 4,000 times a month since it was launched last year. 8 Steps to Dubai is expected to mirror that success.