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IPM Dubai gets to tap investment avenues
- PUBLISHED: Fri 9 Oct 2015, 12:00 AM UPDATED: Fri 9 Oct 2015, 11:00 AM
International exhibitors at the 10th International Plants Expo Middle East (IPM Dubai), the most important plant show in the Gulf region, are optimistic about the opportunities that the region presents as they displayed an array of colourful flowers at the show on Monday.
The event, which concluded on October 7 at the Dubai World Trade Centre, established itself as the leading trade show for the horticultural industry in the Gulf region. The main event was accompanied by the Middle East Floral Design Excellence Award and seminars on gardens, landscaping, and the latest horticultural technology.
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Rajiv Ruparelia, director of Ruparelia Group, who exhibited at the show with the group's floriculture venture, said that it was the group's first time exhibiting in Dubai. The group's flower company, Rosebud, is the largest exporter of sweetheart and intermediate roses from Uganda.
"We have been meaning to come to the UAE for a while now to exhibit our flowers," he said. "We target the middle and lower middle class with our sweetheart and intermediate roses. I believe that the future of Africa, especially East Africa, lies in agriculture. Uganda is one of the only places in the world where you can grow roses 365 days a year, and this makes it ideal for the agriculture and export business."
Ruparelia explained that Rosebud grew all its roses in Uganda and then shipped 90 per cent of them to Holland, from where it is distributed to Belgium, France, Germany, Russia, and the UK. He also hopes to soon add the UAE to the list of export countries.
"The visitors to our stand have been quite taken aback with the wide variety of colour mixes that we offer with our roses. Roses are just like fashion; they change every so often and we have to up to date on what the consumers want. Currently, Rosebud offers 18 varieties, and we are cultivating new ones as well."
He also revealed that the company is interested in supplying hypermarkets in the UAE such as Carrefour and Lulu. Ruparelia's thoughts are echoed by Stephany Proano, executive director of Ecuador FairTrade Association, who are also exhibiting their flowers for the first time in the UAE.
"We have more than 200 different flower varieties in our portfolio, with more than a hundred different types of roses. We mainly sell to supermarkets in the US and are looking to do the same here in the UAE," she said. "Our six farms are all located in Ecuador and we cultivate and export our flowers all year round."
Asked about the times when business peaked for the company, Proano pointed to occasions such as Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, and Christmas. She also noted that weddings and events contributed to a fair share of the demand.
Speaking on the flower trade industry in the UAE, local giant, Black Tulip Flowers, which is also exhibiting at the event, said that the industry is mainly driven by the regional hospitality and events sectors. The company, which grows its flowers in greenhouses in Kenya, exports its flowers to several other countries worldwide besides the UAE.
"Most of our business comes from hotels in the region, as well as the various conferences and events that take place in the country all year round," said Karthik, international marketing manager for Black Tulip Flowers. "With the growth of the hospitality industry in the UAE, we can expect to see the demand for flowers increase."
The UAE has been credited with owning 30 per cent of the total number of flowers, plants and trees imported into the GCC in 2014, according to figures by the UN Comtrade.
- rohma@khaleejtimes.com
