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A delegation of 18 Philippine enterprises will present premium halal-certified food items at the Gulf Food Hotel and Equipment Exhibition and Salon Culinaire, or Gulfood, which will be held from February 20 to 24, 2023, at the Dubai World Trade Centre in the United Arab Emirates.
The Philippines’ hybrid participation, led by the Center of International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM), will include manufacturers and exporters of fresh and processed fruits and vegetables; processed marine products; ethnic and gourmet products; non-alcoholic beverages; confectionary, biscuits, and pastries; and other food and beverage categories.
Under the banner of the country’s collective food marketing initiative, FOODPhilippines, the Philippine participation will promote small and medium businesses (MSEs) with halal certification as well as high-value and innovative goods.
Through its participation in Gulfood, CITEM hopes to increase the Philippines’ footprint in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region. Gulfood is a well-known worldwide platform dedicated to food and beverage processing in the Middle East and Africa, drawing over 98,000 important industry participants and decision-makers as well as over 5,000 exhibitors each year. Gulfood, as one of the world’s largest food and beverage trade shows, has been essential in increasing the Philippines’ market share in the worldwide halal commerce.
“We want to position the Philippines as a reliable source of fresh, healthy, and natural food products and ingredients to match the trend toward healthier and more sustainable diets. The Philippines’ participation in Gulfood 2023 is extremely strategic because the MEA region is one of the biggest markets for halal food, which often overlaps with organic and plant-based food,” said Trade Promotions Group (TPG) Assistant Secretary Glenn G. Peñaranda.
According to the Philippine Trade and Investment Center (PTIC) in Dubai, the UAE remains an appealing market for Philippine commodities and goods since food exports to the country have remained consistent despite the epidemic. Along with Saudi Arabia, it is the most major import market for halal items in the Middle East.
“The Philippines’ participation in Gulfood is critical to increasing our share of the halal food market. Because of the large population of Filipinos in the United Arab Emirates, there’s also a growing demand for Filipino food products. We are confident that this year’s participation will yield positive results and aid in the mainstreaming of Philippine food products and ingredients in the long run,” said Dr. Edward L. Fereira, Ph. D., CITEM Executive Director.
The country’s participation in Gulfood 2023 will benefit from the agency’s enhanced food sector lead generating and digital promotion tools. This year, CITEM hopes to boost the country’s hybrid participation by offering a “365 sourcing experience” that includes a planned mix of physical and digital components.
The Philippine pavilion will be located in Sheikh Rashid Hall, booths R152 and R174. The Philippines’ hybrid participation is organized by CITEM, the export promotion branch of the Department of Trade and Industry, in collaboration with PTIC-Dubai.
More items from Philippine Gulfood exhibitors, as well as hundreds of other small and medium-sized companies (SMEs), will be on display at IFEX Philippines, which will be held from May 26 to 28, 2023, at the World Trade Center Metro Manila in Pasay City, Philippines.
