Product of France … made in the UAE

DUBAI // French food companies could soon be making meat products, fruit juice, cheese and other dairy products in the UAE.

The move would cut the cost of French brands sold here as the need to import items pushes prices up significantly.

"We'll see more and more companies coming here because you have to be close to the markets, especially when you deal with fresh products," the French trade commissioner Francois Sporrer said.

"The Emirates are a major platform for trade with neighbouring countries and more distant ones such as India, Egypt and maybe East Africa."

The French spice company Gyma has set already set up a factory at Dubai Investment Park and some of the products made there are shipped to France.

Mr Sporrer said it would not be possible for French companies to make speciality products such as Camembert cheese in the UAE, but said: "You could produce a fair quality cheese here, why not?"

He was speaking at an event promoting the annual Gulfood exhibition, taking place in Dubai next week.

Another guest, the Italian Ambassador Giorgio Starace, sought to reassure consumers about the quality of extra-virgin olive oil from his country after allegations that some of it is substandard.

Author Tom Mueller said in a book published last month that some dealers adulterated olive oil with cheap vegetable oils and used artificial colouring.

But Mr Starace dismissed the claims made in Extra Virginity: the Sublime and Scandalous World of Olive Oil. "I deny these allegations absolutely. They're not true at all," he said. "The legislation on this topic in Italy is the most severe in the European Union.

Gulfood will take place at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre, from February 19 to 22.