FOODPhilippines returned to the 29th edition of Gulfood on Monday, February 19, as the world’s biggest annual food and beverage sourcing event kicked off at the Dubai World Trade Centre in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE). Central to the Philippines’ participation were food and ingredients focused on health and wellness, brought by 25 food exhibitors bannering the theme “Healthy and Convenient Food Options.”
Seeking to penetrate the fast-changing food landscape in the UAE, the delegation capitalized on the current trend fostering healthy and easy eating across the region. The Philippine Pavilion housed an array of nutritious food products from plant-based snacks, and healthy snack bars to fresh cut fruits and vegetables, as well as ready-to-cook meals.
Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM) Executive Director Dr. Edward Fereira underscored how important it is for the Philippines to consistently maintain its presence in the global market especially in the MEA region.
“As you know very well, the UAE cradles a market ripe with potential for trade and investment. With rich natural resources and a thriving economy fueled by an invaluable workforce, the Philippines is more than capable to play in big league shows such as Gulfood and cater to the growing international demand,” Fereira explained.
A recent study showed that the UAE food and beverage market is currently pegged at USD 20 billion. This figure is expected to double by 2029. Several factors are at play but most of which could be attributed to the growing expat population and high-income consumer base within the region.
Fereira has, likewise, extended his gratitude to Gulfood for providing an avenue to Philippine food exporters to showcase their products.
“Ticking off its 29th edition, Gulfood has become a catalyst to the vibrant landscape of the global food industry. It is, indeed, a culmination of the industry movers’ collective effort towards a culture of excellence and innovation,” Fereira said.
Apart from its food offerings, the Philippine Pavilion facilitated matchmaking services and business-to-business (B2B) meetings between Philippine food exhibitors and foreign trade buyers during the 5-day trade show.
The Philippines’ participation in Gulfood was made possible by CITEM, an attached agency of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), along with DTI – Export Marketing Bureau (DTI-EMB), and the Philippine Trade and Investment Center in Dubai (PTIC-Dubai).
CITEM is also set to hold IFEX Philippines, the country’s biggest international trade show for food and ingredients, on May 10-12, 2024 at the World Trade Center Metro Manila, in Pasay City, Philippines.