The search is on to find the signature aroma of Expo 2020.
Organisers of the Dubai exhibition announced yesterday that they were inviting manufacturers of perfume, essential oils, bukhoor and skincare products from across the Gulf and beyond to bid to make officially licensed Expo 2020 products.
One perfume producer could even be charged with producing an exclusive scent for the Expo 2020 event set to take place in Dubai in three years’ time, Bureau Expo 2020 Dubai said.
Officially licensed products will be sold to visitors during the six months of Expo 2020 through selected outlets across the UAE, including dedicated Expo retail stores, as well as at the Expo 2020 site itself between October 2020 and April 2021.
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More Expo 2020 bids: Tenders have been issued for branded food and beverage and retail products
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“This region is famous for its perfumes, it is ingrained in our traditions. We want people who visit Expo 2020 Dubai from around the world to experience these amazing aromas and take home with them a scent of Arabia,” said Najeeb Al Ali, the executive director of Bureau Expo 2020 Dubai.
He said that the tender process to apply to become an official perfume producer for the event was open to businesses of any size from anywhere in the world and that companies should register their interest by April 20.
Perfume producers are the third type of manufacturers to be officially invited to tender to take part in Expo 2020 sales.
In January organisers invited manufacturers of souvenirs to register their interest in making officially licensed Expo 2020 products and in February food producers were also invited to express interest.
In total Expo 2020 plans to run tender processes for up to 40 licensed product categories, comprising more than 5,000 products.
Mr Al Ali said that the organisers would “tailor flexible terms to ensure profitability and equal opportunity” for companies of all scales, especially small and medium-sized enterprises.
Last year Expo 2020 announced that 20 per cent of its budget – more than Dh5 billion – would be spent through SMEs.
“In particular, we hope to give smaller, local artisan producers in the UAE and GCC a chance to share a global platform with international brands, showcasing their unique products,” Mr Al Ali said.
Euromonitor International estimates that the fragrance market in the UAE was worth about Dh1.5 billion in 2015.
lbarnard@thenational.ae
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