Dubai, 4th March 2010 (WAM): Twenty seven million flowering plants were planted throughout Dubai in 2009 meaning the Emirate is getting greener every year according to Dubai Municipality a week before the start of IPM DUBAI 2010, the Middle Easts only event dedicated to the horticultural industry.
Dubai Municipality has also confirmed its plans for 2010 and 2011 to increase green areas in Dubai by 4 per cent per year, open new parks and provide more landscaping. Its aim is to add to the current 6 major parks and 76 residential ones spread throughout different areas of the Emirate and provide every person living in Dubai an equivalent of 25 square metres of green space each by 2020 where currently this space is 13.18 square metres. Mohammed Hassan Al Fardan, Head of Promotion and Recreation Office Public Parks and Horticulture Department, Dubai Municipality, said: "Our surroundings are highly important for all of us and make Dubai an attractive and pleasant City in which to live - for this reason we are pushing ahead with our extensive plans. "Until now we have only used locally produced plants and flowers, cultivated in our own greenhouses, to develop Dubais green spaces. However, we have very ambitious ideas and there is now a need for a greater variety of plant and flower species," he said. "This is why the Dubai Municipality is supporting IPM DUBAI 2010. This horticultural industry event is a perfect platform for us to meet industry leaders, review new products and adopt new technologies to help us in our upcoming beautification projects," he added. Mona Dada, Project Manager, planetfair LLC, said: "Now in its fifth year, IPM DUBAI has become a benchmark event for the horticultural industry and is staged in Dubai because of its world-leading infrastructure as a transport hub. IPM has grown in importance every year and is an opportunity for professionals to demonstrate technology, meet, discuss new plans and strike deals. This year is going to be no different, and judging from the interest in the lead up to opening day, it looks like we will have yet another highly successful show," she said. "We are expecting visitor footfall at this years IPM to exceed 3,000 over the three days, as it is clear that the demand for flowers and plants and their related products and services remains strong despite the global financial conditions," she added. Running from March 8-10 at Airport Expo Dubai, IPM DUBAI, the Middle Easts leading trade fair for the fast-growing horticulture industry is in its fifth edition and will feature more than 160 international exhibitors from 20 countries from the fields of flowers, plants, technology, floristry, sales promotion, plant maintenance and plants logistics. Trade visitors will include plant producers and breeders, seed traders, landscape gardeners, retail centres and wholesalers, real estate developers, local government and the hospitality industry. Visitors will arrive from the GCC, Levant, Kenya, South Africa and Asia. The show includes participation from leading companies in the UAE such as Alissar T&C, Al Lokrit, Arabian Agriculture, Mirak Agriculture, Gover Horticulture and others. Seminars and live demonstrations will be held every day and the Association of German Florists (FDF) will be presenting internationally acclaimed floristry design. The latest technology and techniques in landscaping, irrigation, plant protection and seed plantation will be on display, along with floristry accessories and sales promotion items. Organised by planetfair Dubai LLC and Messe Essen GmbH, Germany, under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and Chairman of Dubai Airports, the highlight of the trade show are the national pavilions of Egypt, Germany, Kenya, United States and the United Kingdom. With a common goal to promote Dubai as the hub for horticultural trade, the exhibition is supported by Dubai Airports, Dubai Flower Centre, Dubai Municipality-Public Parks & Horticulture and the Ministry of Environment & Water. IPM DUBAI 2010 will take place for the second time alongside World of Perishables Middle East (WOP DUBAI), the only dedicated trade show for fresh produce.Copyright Emirates News Agency (WAM) 2010.
