• Home
• /
• World
• /
• Gulf

Gulfood 2003 - an ideal platform for Philippine firms

DUBAI - The representatives of the nine participating Philippine food companies at Gulfood 2003 are confident that their wide range of products will be well received in the mainstream markets of the UAE and that their participation in the event will be an ideal platform to expand their client base.

"We have put much consideration in the 1.5 million Filipinos in the Middle East who will strongly influence the mainstream market to use our products. The products that we are promoting here cater to the Filipino-Oriental community, and we consider the preference of the market for health and natural products," said Alicia Pineda, Division Chief, Agri-Marine Division, Operations Group of the Centre for International Trade Expositions and Missions (Citem).

The Philippine Department of Trade and Industry's Citem and the Philippine Trade and Investment Centre had organised the Philippine participation in Gulfood 2003. Ms Pineda said that in terms of value, Citem expects to generate some $4 million in sales during its trade mission.

The nine leading food companies which are participating in this four-day event at the Dubai International Exhibition Centre are: Branded Food & Ingredients Enterprises, Celebes Agricultural Corporation, Ecarma Health Options, Figaro Coffee Company, Fil-Choice Food Industries Inc., Mega Fishing Corporation, Moonbake Inc., Oceanic Exports (Manila) Inc. and Seachamp International Export Corporation.

With its wide array of fresh produce, special delicacies, sumptuous desserts, unique mixes and other ingredients, the Philippine food industry is creating a niche for its premium products. "The Middle East is already a captive market for Filipino food products. The potential is very encouraging because the nine companies we have brought to Dubai are renowned for their line of choice food products," Ms Pineda told Khaleej Times.