UAE: Saleh Lootah Elected Chairman of Dubai Chamber’s F&B Business Group

DUBAI: Under the auspices of the Dubai Chamber, the Food & Beverages Manufacturing Business Group has been reactivated with full force, held Executive Committee elections and moved to emerge as major voice for the F&B business community operating in the UAE.

To give a strong support to the local business community in a consolidated way, the Food & Beverage Manufacturing Business Group (FBMBG) elected its executive committee during an election meeting held at the Dubai Chamber.

Mr. Saleh Abdullah Lootah, Managing Director of Al Islami Foods (photo), has been elected as Chairman of the group, and Mr. Tarek Al Sakka, General Manager of Dubai Refreshments as Vice Chairman.

The elected committee discussed the ways to improve functioning of the group to emerge as a main voice for the sector, especially the food sector. The meeting also discussed appropriate
solutions to their issues.

The chairman, Saleh Abdullah Lootah, said: “major challenges faced by the food sector in Dubai include the high cost of doing business, fixing of food prices as well as export related issues. The team will work jointly to find solutions to the common challenges faced by the business community.”

Mr. Lootah pointed out that the Group’s priority now is to increase the membership and to bring non-members to its fold. He said there are about

2,500 food companies operating in Dubai. In light of the emirate’s idealistic location we are expecting to attract more investors to the food sector as it is one the leading drivers of the UAE economy.

He lauded the strategic role played by Dubai Chamber in providing the required assistance to the business community in conveying their concerns to the relevant government authorities.

He assured the committee members that the group, shortly, will intensify its efforts by holding frequent strategic meetings, sharing of best practices and experiences with them, which he said, will help further enhance the F&B sector as well as serve the its common interests.

In his welcome address, Mr. Hassan Al Hashemi, Director External Relations, Dubai Chamber, stated that the reactivation of the group is a good sign for the food and beverage manufacturing sector as this will not only promote growth of the sector but will also allow the members to coordinate and follow up on the issues faced by their sector.

Mr. Al Hashemi added: the food sector in the country is going through a period of positive growth with expected food consumption compound annual growth forecast of 5.11% from 2006 to 2015 and per-capita forecast for food consumption annual growth of 3.07% during the same period. He also pointed out the food consumption growth this year is expected to rise to 4.9 per cent.