THIRTEEN export companies from the Philippines showcased locally produced products for food manufacturing and processing during the Gulfood Hotel and Equipment Exhibition and Salon Culinaire (Gulfood) 2021 held recently at the Sheikh Rashid Hall-R172 in the Dubai World Trade Center in the United Arab Emirates.
Well-loved Filipino products were exhibited in the FoodPhilippines pavilion, including coconut water by Century Pacific Agricultural Ventures Inc.; canned tuna by Century Pacific Food Inc.; canned sardines by Mega Global Corp.; various branded goods by Philippine Grocers Food Exports Inc.; and special Filipino breads by MagicMelt Food Corp.
Premium Philippine export fruit products were also presented, such as the distinctly Pinoy pineapple juice and global favorite dried mangoes from Doxo Trading, Market Reach International Resources, and Profood International Corp.
Filipino staple food that came in various forms were, likewise, displayed like the premium rice courtesy of SL Agritech Corp.; selections of black, pink, brown, and red rice from Federation of Peoples’ Sustainable Development Cooperative; and rice cake snacks by JNRM Corp.
Completing the Philippine delegation were Sandpiper Spices and Condiments Corp., featuring its Pioneering brand Mama Sita’s for its mixes and sauces accompanied by heirloom Filipino recipes as well as Super Q, with its quality wheat-based noodles such as bihon, pancit canton, and palabok.
Their presence in the five-day international event which unfolded from February 21 to 25, 2021 was made possible through a hybrid format, comprising both physical and digital components in line with the ongoing public health measures amid the pandemic.
According to Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (Citem) Executive Director Pauline Suaco-Juan, the country’s institutional participation in Gulfood featured halal-certified products with QR codes that interested buyers could scan to navigate toward the exhibitors’ inboxes.
For Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary for the Trade Promotions Group (TPG) Abdulgani Macatoman, “It’s all systems go” for their continued efforts to promote the country’s best halal-certified food products, mainly in the Middle East and North American region.
“We’re looking forward to showcasing our homegrown flavors, exemplifying the diversity that discerning taste buds all over the world know and love,” he said.
The Philippine participation in Gulfood 2021 was facilitated by Citem, in fulfillment of its mandate as the export-promotions arm of the DTI, in partnership with Philippine Trade and Investment Center (PTIC) Dubai, PTIC Jeddah, and the Export Marketing Bureau.
Building on the momentum created by the delegates to one of the world’s biggest fairs for food and hospitality, Citem and PTIC Dubai will facilitate an extensive business-to-business event between exhibitors and prospective buyers from March 14 to 16, 2021.
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