The International Centre for Culinary Arts Dubai (ICCA) and the Sharjah Expo Centeryesterdaysigned an MoU announcing a partnership between the two entities for the 2014 Sharjah Expoat a press conference held at the Sharjah Expo Centre.

The agreement was signed by Sunjeh Raja, Director and CEO of ICCA, and Mr. Saif Mohamed Al Midfa, CEO of Sharjah Expo Center, in the presence of VIP’s and senior management.
The MoU outlines ICCA’s commitment to provide their full support to the Chef Tech Arena for the duration of the annual Kitchen Equipment and Technology Exhibition, taking place during the Sharjah Expo from the 8th to 10th December 2014.

The Kitchen Equipment and Technology Exhibition provides a focused show for the growing requirements of the hospitality, restaurant and industrial kitchen sectors in the region.

The Chef’s Tech Arena at the event is a chef’s area ‘with a difference’ enabling industries to view technology in use and featuring a complete working industrial kitchen from pre-cook to sink.
Sunjeh Raja, Director and CEO of ICCA spoke during the press conference saying, “We are here today to show our continued commitment to the Government of Sharjah and their vision for the culinary industry in the UAE. We would like to thank the Sharjah Expo Center for choosing us as a strategic partner and we are excited to work together to ensure that the Sharjah Expo 2014 is a great success. At ICCA we are working to redefine ways in which professional and personal culinary training is offered in the region, and to serve as a trainer and provider of world class chefs to thehotel and restaurant industry here, in preparation for Expo 2020. “

This MoU comes at a time where the UAE economy is experiencing rapid growth, as consumer expenditure is expected to top US$210 billion this year, up by 7% from 2013. Food spending alone is set to reach over US$100 billion in the next five years. GCC countries are projected to consume 49.1 million tons of food annually by the end of 2017, with UAE as the largest consumer per capita among the GCC states. This, coupled with the boom in the hospitality industry in the GCC, with a compound annual growth rate of 7% by 2016, bodes very well for the future of the industry across the Gulf.