Tropical variety of rice hybrids is one of the new Philippine products at Gulfood 2016 in Dubai World Trade center PhoTo courtesy of citem facebook Page
FOOD Philippines returned to Dubai from February 21 to 25 to participate at the biggest annual food and hospitality industry trade show, the Gulfood 2016, at the Dubai World Trade Center.
The Center of International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM), the export and promotions arm of the Department of Trade and Industry of the Philippines, brought new companies to introduce a signature line of products that are not only premium, healthy and Halal-certified, but are also a zest flavors that will surely bring excitement to the Food Philippines pavilion.
“The Philippines takes the momentum expansion of the food industry in Dubai,” said Rosvi Gaetos, executive director of CITEM. According to Sultan Al Mansouri at the Annual Investment Meeting 2015, the UAE’s food imports are about to rise to $400 billion in 30 years.
UAE imports a total of 85 percent of its food consumption and its government plans to increase diversity of food imports to further secure food supply in the country.
New products at the Food Philippines pavilion this year were processed seafood and tuna, confectioneries, alternative baking products and tropical variety of rice hybrids brought by homegrown businesses namely Century Pacific Food Inc.,Chocovron Global Corporation, Consumer Insights Inc., Franklin Baker Company of the Philippines, Magicmelt Foods Inc., Markenburg International Foods Corporation, M. Lhuillier Food Products Inc., SL Agritech Corporation &Valmarce Food Marketing Corporation.
The new of exhibitors also revealed new flavors to the Dubai market while still promoting healthy food products, in line with the food Philippines campaign for premium, healthy and Halal-certified products from the country.
To name a few, these products were energy bar made from mango flour, tuna, which is a good source of lean protein and omega-3 fatty acids, tablea or pure cacao beans dried and roasted and formed into tablets, any other confectionary products such as marshmallows, chocolate coated polvoron, chocolate covered mangoes, cacao spread and powder, and coconut tablea.