US beef delegates woo Middle Eastern buyers
28/02/2014
The Gulfood Show in Dubai is the first stop for the group, which includes representatives from the Cattlemen’s Beef Board, Montana Beef Council and Merck Animal Health.
“Gulfood is like the Oscars for our industry,” said John Chihade, president of Chihade International, an Atlanta-based exporter who has been exporting to the Middle East for more than a decade. “We get to see our customers and our vendors all in one location in a market that continues to grow.”
The Middle East region is a stable trading partner for the US beef industry, the number four market in volume during 2013, purchasing 147,696 metric tons of product valued at $276.2 million.
“I am here to try to get more American beef for my customers,” said Ahmed Hefni, general manager of the Egyptian Foundation for Import & Export. “All things being equal, US beef is the only choice, because of its high quality. But, price is always a consideration.”
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