Saleh Lootah - Chairman, UAE Food & Beverages Manufacturing Group

Ahmed Bayoumi - CEO, Berain Water / Conference Chair

Mohammad Ali Al Kamali - COO, Manufacturing and Exports Development, Dubai Industries and Exports

Ebtesam AlKaabi - Head of Sales, JAFZA

Youssef Mohamed - Alibaba.com MEA Managing Partner of JSC Middle East & Africa

• Decoding the technological advancements shaping the industry
• Analysing the predictions for consumer preferences and market trends

Andrey Dvoychenkov - Managing Director, Arabian Peninsula and Pakistan, Nielsen

H.E. Yerlan A. Baidaulet - the Director General of the Islamic Organization for Food Security (IOFS)

• Ensuring Food Safety and Security through Investment and Initiatives
• Strategies to reduce reliance on global supply chains and strengthen self-sufficiency
• Building cross-border public-private partnerships to ensure food security
• How Agri-Tech can contribute to enhancing food security in the Middle East

Moderator
Dr Ashraf Mahate - Chief Economist, Trade and Export Market Development, Dubai Industries and Exports
Panelists
Suresh Vaidyanathan - CEO, Abu Dhabi Food Hub
Andres Ponce Olias - Managing Director, Tilda
Ahmed Al Shaibani, Project Head, Food Tech Valley
Malachy Mitchell - Co-Founder & Managing Director, Farelly & Mitchell
Feras Al Soufi - General Manager, Emirates Crop One

The Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) entered into force from 1st May 2022, is expected to increase the bilateral trade in goods to US$ 100 bn within five years. During the past one year, CEPA has made a significant impact on India’s Bilateral Trade with the UAE. The Bilateral Trade between India and the UAE has touched historic highs during FY 2022-23. Trade has increased from US$ 72.9 billion (Apr 21-Mar 2022) to US$ 84.5 billion (Apr 22-Mar 2023) registering a year-on-year increase of 16%. During the CEPA Implementation period (from May 22 to Mar 23), bilateral trade increased from US$ 67.5 billion (May 21-Mar 2022) to US$ 76.9 billion (May 22-Mar 2023) – an annual increase of 14%. The prime products with ample export opportunities in the UAE market are basmati rice, non-basmati rice, buffalo meat, sheep/goat meat, miscellaneous preparation, fresh onions, pulses, fresh mangoes, alcoholic beverages, cereal preparations, milled products, dairy products, mango pulp, bananas, grapes etc.

With India being the world’s second-largest food producer and a contributing partner in the UAE’s ambition to strengthen food security, the India-UAE CEPA is a landmark free trade agreement (FTA) between the two countries, that provides innumerable opportunities to strengthen and integrate sustainable practices into food processing, enables the creation of opportunities to minimize adverse environmental impact, reduce waste, conserve resources, and contribute to a more sustainable and resilient food system.

Piruz Khambatta - Chairman, CII National Task Force on Affirmative Action and Group Chairman, Rasna Pvt Ltd

Mr Minhaj Alam - Additional Secretary, Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI)

Moderator
Mr Piruz Khambatta - Chairman, CII National Task Force on Affirmative Action and Group Chairman, Rasna Pvt Ltd
Panelists
Mr. Athang Jain - Director, Jain Farm Fresh Foods Limited
Mr Rahul Dhawan - Business Manager - Processed F&V, ITC Limited | Agri Business Division

• Venture capital and funding trends in food tech startups
• Impact investing and sustainable food initiatives: Future Outlook
• Overview of government aided funding, collaborations and partnerships for industry innovation

Moderator
Seymone Moodley - Editor in Chief of Hotel and Catering News Middle East
Panelists
Sankha Biswas - CEO, Nutridor
Paul Thachil - Managing Director, Oils and Fats, IFFCO
Abdelrazak Al-Sharif - the Head of Programs, Sheraa
Abdalla Al Aboodi - Senior Vice President, Project & Corporate Finance, Wholesale & Institutional Banking (WIB) - Emirates Development Bank
Majed Julfar - Director of Trade Credit Insurance and Export Financing, Etihad Credit Insurance

• Industry Outlook and Consumer Trends: Identifying Growth Opportunities
• Understanding the growth opportunities, food innovations and technology advancements in the region
• Revitalizing the food industry in line with Vision 2030 - Overview of the diverse opportunities and projects underlying this growth

Moderator
Ahmed Bayoumi - CEO, Berain Water
Panelists
Angelo Djaffardjee - General Manager, Digital Transformation, Mohamed Yousuf Naghi Group
Yuliia Hryhorash - Regional Brand and Marketing Communication Manager, BRF
Andrey Dvoychenkov - Managing Director, Arabian Peninsula and Pakistan, Nielsen
Mohammed Al Shuhail - Executive Vice President of Food Service, Almarai
Marcos Delorenzo - CEO of Agricultural Development Company Ltd

• Key initiatives taken as part of national nutrition strategies and progress made
• Food and beverages reformulation, challenges in the implementation and opportunities
• Private sector’s role in driving healthier food innovation
• Government-led strategies vs. company-specific goals and harmonizing food policies across the region
• Consumer awareness, as a driver for successful nutrition programs

Moderator
Dr. Suzanne Baaghil - Head of Regulatory Affairs, PepsiCo and Chair of FBMG Regulatory Committee
Panelists
Mr Khalid Sharif - Ex CEO Dubai Municipality’s Environment, Health & Safety Control Department, UAE
Jawaher Al Dhuhoori - Standards Researcher, Ministry of Industry & Advanced Technology, UAE
Radwa Medhat - Head of Regulatory and Wellbeing – Kellogg’s MENAT and Food & Beverage Manufacturing Representative
Saad Alotaibi - Senior Food Regulatory Consultant, Federation of Saudi Chambers, Saudi
Matt Kovac - CEO Food Industry Asia, Singapore

• Collaborating with retailers, and farmers to promote locally grown produce
• Addressing the Challenges of Desert Agriculture: Innovations for Sustainable Solutions
• Measures to grow self-reliant and adapt to disruptions in the global food supply chain

Shamal Abdulkhaliq Mohammed - Director, Agritech, Silal

Manisha Juneja - MENA Research Lead, Toluna

• Rise of conscious consumerism –are plant-based or flexitarian diets the new fad
• Demand for organic, natural and clean label products - the unprecedented growth in this sector
• Envisaging new product innovations, the rise of free-from foods and beyond
• The Clean Label Movement: Analyzing the Pros and Cons of Wellness Trends

Moderator
Manisha Juneja - MENA Research Lead, Toluna
Panelists
Ronald N.F. Holman - Event Director, Free From Food
Sooraj Matthew - Head of Commercial Al Futtaim Logistics
Valeria Krynetskaya - Head of Plant-Based Venture, IFFCO
Christina Abdo Doublichevitche - Head of Research & Innovation and Nutrition, Lipton
Sonya Kayani - Regional Communications Director, Greater Middle East & Central Asia - Tetra Pak
Khaled Khatib - Technical Head, Tate & Lyle