Brazilian Association of Beef Exporters teams up with events company Sopexa to host gala dinner introducing diplomats and trade delegates to Halal certified Angus beef.
Dubai: An association representing the Brazilian beef industry is seeking pastures new for its gourmet-quality cuts of Angus beef.
The Brazilian Association of Beef Exporters (ABIEC) is hosting the ABIEC Gourmet Beef Event in association with the events company Sopexa in a bid to kick-start exports of Brazilian Halal-certified Angus beef.
The dinner event on February 24 will serve up three different cuts of Angus beef in the styles of Brazilian, Lebanese and African cuisines to a distinguished line up of guests including the Brazilian ambassador to the UAE.
Coinciding with ABIEC's presence at Gulfood 2016, the gala dinner is part of the association's strategy to boost exports of premium grades of Halal Angus beef to the UAE's retail, hospitality and food and beverage sectors.
Fernando Sampaio, Executive Director of ABIEC, said: "The UAE is significant target market for Brazilian beef exporters. It is a culturally diverse society where residents and visitors are keen to try new food and beverage experiences.
"Our objective is to demonstrate to this market that Brazilian Angus beef is produced to international standards of sustainability and animal welfare, and according to Halal´s religious criteria."
He added: "We have recently began exports to countries including The Netherlands and Germany and a lot more is yet to come. We aim to break into the UAE market before targeting other European countries, as well as Latin America and Asia."
The gala dinner at The Palace Dubai Downtown hotel will feature an audience of more than a hundred diplomatic dignitaries, trade representatives, chefs, journalists, bloggers and representatives of the region's agricultural sector.
It will begin with speeches by the Brazilian Ambassador, H.E. Paulo Cesar Meira de Vasconcellos, as well as Mr Sampaio from ABIEC.
H.E. Mr de Vasconcellos said : "The UAE is a growing market for Brazilian beef. In 2015, Brazilian exports of fresh and frozen beef to the UAE weighed 15 metric tons, reaching over US$75 million in value.
"These numbers are an expression of the long and trusting partnership between Brazil and the UAE, particularly regarding cooperation on food security. Even when other GCC countries suspended their imports of Brazilian beef over the BSE scare, the UAE kept its confidence in the work of Brazilian authorities and the security of our food safety standards and practices and never imposed any restrictions on Brazilian beef imports."
After an introduction by the Palace Downtown Dubai Executive Chef, guests will be served three main courses each consisting of different cuts - fillet, picanha and entrecote. They will used to create Bife Acebolado, a Brazilian grill, Lebanese Grilled beef skewers, and African Minchet Abish, a ground beef stew.
Fabio Schuler, a member of the Brazilian Angus Association, said: "We are delighted to be part of an event that is hosting such a distinguished line up of guests and look forward to introducing them to the versatility and exceptional taste of Brazilian Angus beef.
"We have gone to considerable effort to produce Halal certified Angus beef and look forward to making the most of export opportunities in this region."
Both ABIEC and the Angus Brazilian Association will be active at Gulfood 2016, the world's largest annual food and hospitality show, which is being held at the Dubai World Trade Centre. The associations are using the event to promote Brazilian Halal Angus beef to thousands of representatives of the food industry.
ABIEC is responsible for 92 per cent of Brazil's negotiated beef for international markets. It was created to boost exports of Brazilian beef by reducing commercial barriers and promoting the product globally.
In 2001, Apex-Brazil and ABIEC formed a partnership to improve the perception of Brazilian beef around the world. Since then, six projects have already been signed with investments of close to US$10 million, resulting in export growth of more than 500 per cent.
Currently, Brazil produces 10 million tons of beef, 20 per cent of which is exported overseas to more than 130 countries. In the last decade, the sector registered a 135 per cent growth in its export value. In 2015, Brazil's beef exports earned total revenue of US$ 5.9 billion.
The Certified Angus Beef program is Brazil's largest beef quality certification scheme and is officially recognised by the Ministry of Agriculture. Only Angus animals or Angus mixes that fit specific criteria receive the program certification.
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© Press Release 2016
