Miller Magazine Issue: 143 November 2021

56 MILLER / november 2021 NEWS The IAOM MEA Conference & Expo 2021 was the first in-person gathering for the most milling industry pro- fessionals in the region since the start of the pandemic. This year’s event has attracted 64 stands from 52 exhibiting companies, 510 in-person participants from 44 countries, 121 millers from 62 milling companies. 2021 edition of the International Association of Oper- ative Millers Mideast & Africa (IAOM MEA) Conference was held in Dubai from October 10-12 at the Dubai World Trade Centre. The event took place at a time of great change not just to the milling industry but to the global economy as well. The expo was the first in-person gath- ering for most milling industry professionals in the region since the start of the pandemic. Multinational companies from the flour milling and feed manufacturing industries, allied traders, grain mill- ers, milling machine manufacturers from various parts of the world participated in the event. This year’s event has attracted 64 stands from 52 exhibiting companies, 510 in-person participants from 44 countries, 121 millers from 62 milling companies. The IAOM MEA Conference & Expo 2021 provided networking, exchange of ideas, technical & educational opportunities and discovery of new products and ser- vices. Participants followed the panel discussions on ‘Supply Chain Cost/Risk during Covid 19 Amid Tightening World Wheat Supplies’ and ‘Impact of Automation and the 4th Industrial Revolution on the Milling Industry’ with great interest to get up to date with the current market and industry trends. More than 15 different topics were presented during the conference. Organizers have modified the format of IAOM MEA for this year on an exceptional basis considering the ongo- ing pandemic situation by avoiding social events to en- sure the safety of participants. There were several proto- cols in place due to the pandemic. “As the premier grain milling event in the region, IAOM MEA is the optimal setting to network from all corners of the globe and build our global milling community,” said Conference Chairman Essa Al Ghurair in his welcome speech. At the event, he was also awarded the IAOM MEA Regional Leader. IAOM MEA brings the milling industry together