DUBAI: As many as 64 Indian exporters, dealing with a range of agriculture and processed food products, will take part in a food event in Dubai These firms are participating under the banner of Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), Indian consulate in Dubai has said.The Gulffood 2017 event will be held from February 26 to March 2.APEDA, an apex organisation under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, is mandated with the responsibility for Promotion and Development of the export of various agro products.A statement released by the consulate said, India is one of the largest producer of food in the world and has an outstanding competitive strength in food processing."Plentiful sunshine, variable soil texture, varied agro-climatic zones - tropical, sub-temperate and temperate, and rainfall ranging from less than 13 cms to 600 cms sets the stage for the production of a whole range of agricultural products round the year in different parts of the country."Thus every economic plant species in the world, ranging from temperate orchard crops like apples to tropical mangoes, thrive and flourish in India," it said.APEDA's export basket includes fresh and processed fruits and vegetables, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, pickles, chutneys, guar gum, poultry, meat and dairy products, confectionery, cut flowers, food grains, aromatic plants, Basmati Rice and Indian Long Grain Rice and other Indian delicacies."India exports agricultural products to more than 80 countries world over. The export of Agro products for the year 2015-16 was to the tune of USD 16195.61 Million," said the statement.Subsequent to liberalisation of trade, fiscal and industrial policies in last 25 years, the economic environment in India is very conducive now, for making investment in food processing.Several globally recognised names in the food world viz. Nestle, Kellog's, Mc Donald's, Dominos, Cadburys, Seagram, Perfetti Van Melle, Heinz, Coke and Pepsi have established large scale production bases in India serving domestic markets as well as exporting their products to other countries.UAE market is a potential market for Indian food products i.e., basmati rice, fresh fruits and vegetables, non-basmati rice, buffalo meat, alcoholic beverages, sheep and goat meat etc. The export of APEDA scheduled products to the UAE market for the year 2015-16 was USD 1371 million.According to the statement, the global demand for safe food has resulted in preference for organically grown food.To address the concerns about food safety and traceability in food products, growers, processors and exporters in India have established backward linkages for effective monitoring of the procurement of raw materials.