The UAE has moved from the phase of event host to maker of international events and has proven its ability as an industry leader and a gateway to the growing markets in the region, Sheikha Lubna Bint Khalid Al Qasimi, Minister of Foreign Trade (MoFT), said on Monday. Sheikha Lubna was speaking at meetings with a number of ministers whose countries participated in this year’s Gulfood, the global show for food and hospitality industry. It has attracted more than 3,800 exhibitors from 88 countries. She noted that exhibitions staged in the UAE deliver multiple benefits to producers, manufacturers and buyers and provide an ideal platform for making deals and showcasing the latest technology, services and products. According to her, the UAE is today a major player in world trade especially in re-exports sector. MoFT met with UK Minister of State for Agriculture and Food James Paice, Minister for Tourism and Major Events at Australian State of Victoria Louise Asher, Germany’s Deputy Minister of Agriculture Gerd Mueller, Lebanese Minister of Agriculture Hussein Al Hajj Hassan, Austrian Federal Minister for Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water Management Eng. Nikolaus Berlakovich, and Undersecretary for Turkey’s Economy Ministry Ahmet Yakc.