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Traders in fresh flowers and plants form association

M.D. Gidwani, the association's chairman, said that the new body, which currently has nine committee members, is expected to attract all the major players in the market by the middle of next year just when the Dubai Flower Centre at DCV comes on stream.

The association has worked out a tailor-made chart. Both the formal and official launch of the association is scheduled for next month after which the membership drive will start.

According to industry estimates, there are between 15 and 20 fresh flower and plants traders in the UAE and around 300 shops selling horticultural products and related accessories.

He said the reason behind forming the new body, the work on which started last year, was to gather all the major players in the industry before the launch of the Dubai Flower Centre as well as to put some regulations to the market.

Gidwani, who is also the owner of Al Lokrit International company trading in fresh flowers, plants and related accessories, said: "Fresh flowers and plants consumption in the UAE is not much, but of late it has been growing and we want to develop and stabilise the market before international players come to Dubai Flower Centre. We are approaching flower growing farms in different countries asking them to grow fresh flowers for us that we can trade them in big quantities within the Flower Centre."

He added: "Also the local market needs to be regulated. For instance, the wholesale price for a fresh rose is Dh1, while it is still retailed at Dh5 at supermarkets and is not even fresh."

Ali Al Jallaf, director-general of DCV, said that the association has come in line with the development of Dubai Flower Centre and is expected to organise the local busness in better way to enable it to expand into international market in future.

Meanwhile, DCV has recently completed a feasibility study for the fresh flower distribution centre as part of the new cargo complex.

The Dubai Flower Centre, an integral part of DCV is an ultramodern facility designed to meet the needs for floriculture industry in the region. Phase One of the project to be completed by mid next year will offer a footprint of 10,000 square metres for live operation.

Each phase of the facility will be designed to handle more than 150,000 tonnes of flowers and other horticultural perishables.

The main handling operations for import, export and transit will take place on the ground floor of the facility. Rapid, efficient handling will be aided by advanced communication, storage and operation technologies. Warehouses and offices can be custom-built to individual company requirements.