FOODPhilippines, the country’s collective food promotions program, sealed its Gulfood participation this year with USD133 million in export sales, double the total sales it generated from last year’s participation.
The amount is a combination of booked orders and sales under negotiation following the five-day food expo which ran from February 19 to 23 at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Known as the biggest gathering of leading food and beverage (F&B) brands from more than 190 countries, Gulfood provides a business platform to buyers, exhibitors, and notable personalities in the food and hospitality industries. The annual trade show for food sets the stage where the latest tastes, trends, and innovations are unveiled.
This year, a delegation of 25 Philippine companies engaged in F&B brought to the fore local food products focused on health and wellness. Among the top-selling companies are Pixcel Transglobal, Inc.; SL Agritech Corp.; and Lionheart Farms, Inc..
Consequently, the top food products in terms of dollar value of export leads were fruit preserves, cavendish bananas, fermented marine products, and amino sap beverages.
Underscoring the crucial role Gulfood has been playing in the global food scene, Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM) Executive Director Edward Fereira said, “the annual food expo has become an entry point for businesses across the world to penetrate the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Region.”
The Philippine Pavilion opened its doors to visitors and foreign trade buyers through a ribbon-cutting ceremony led by Export Promotions Head Edward Fereira and Philippine Ambassador to the UAE Alfonso Ferdinand Ver, along with other key government officials. The ceremony was followed by a series of matchmaking services and business-to-business meetings between Philippine exporters and foreign trade buyers.
This year’s participation is led by CITEM, an attached agency of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), in close collaboration with the Department of Trade and Industry – Export Marketing Bureau (DTI-EMB), and Philippine Trade and Investment Center in Dubai (PTIC-Dubai).
CITEM is also set to hold this year’s IFEX Philippines, the country’s biggest international trade show for food and ingredients, on May 10-12 at the World Trade Center Metro Manila in Pasay City.
