World’s largest desert prawn aquaculture project shown at Sea Food Expo
Published: October 2, 2007
Source : AME Info
The fully-integrated hatchery, farm and processing facility located south of Jeddah, KSA, was built at a cost of more than $350m, and was established in a bid to tap into the booming global seafood market, following more than two decades of research into the economic viability of Red Sea shrimp farming.
The company presently exports in excess of 13,000 tonnes of shrimp every year to more than 30 countries.
NPC has recently commenced the construction of the second phase of the project's pond, which will significantly increase its annual production to more than 45,000 tonnes of premium quality shrimp. This is predicted to make NPC the single largest supplier of shrimp in the world. The multi-million dollar venture is also envisioned to be a global leader in environmentally friendly aquaculture shrimp production, boasting cutting-edge farming technologies and techniques, as well as stringent quality standards.
NPC's steady growth has also been boosted by its ongoing program to expand its product offerings particularly in the Middle East, which it values as a critically important market for its expansion program. Egypt is currently NPC's largest shrimp customer in the Middle East with sales of approximately 1,000 tonnes per annum. The company is poised to further its position in the region by targeting other high-growth areas such as Dubai where the seafood market is valued at USD 200 million and continues to grow at an accelerated rate.
'"The Middle East market presents a huge economic growth opportunity for seafood companies as consumption and consumer awareness grows. This will result in an increasing demand for high-value, quality seafood products, with the retail and hospitality sectors looking to contribute significantly to the growth trend," said Mohamed Gamal Zaki, Marketing Support Manager, National Prawn Co.
National Prawn Co. joins a list of 65 leading companies from across the globe that will be exhibiting at the first edition of the international event. Other local firms that have confirmed their participation include Technocrats, Gulf Sea Food LLC, and Ocean Fisheries LLC. Sea Food Expo 2007 is aimed at providing a powerful platform for regional and international companies seeking to penetrate the region's burgeoning seafood market.
"Our aim is to tap into this potentially huge market from the outset and offer a year-round, consistent supply of an extensive range of products designed to suit all sectors. By participating at Sea Food Expo 2007, we expect to boost the awareness of our products with the gathering of key players and decision-makers from this critically important region," added Zaki.
During the three-day show, exhibitors will highlight seafood products, technology and services as well as furnishings, fittings, cold storage systems, packaging and equipment designed for the industry. Footfall is estimated to reach 4,000 to 5,000 key representatives from various sectors including food service, hospitality, retail, research, education, government, transportation, logistics, import/export, packaging and aquaculture services.
"The first edition of Sea Food Expo 2007 will present a prime opportunity for companies dealing with seafood to enter or expand their penetration in the Middle East market. By bringing together the world's leading seafood industry players under one roof, we are confident that the exhibition will serve as the best sourcing event in the region for seafood and processed products, technology, equipment and services," concluded Raees Ahmed, Director, Orange Fairs & Events, organizers of the show.
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