Philippine Halal-Certified Food Products Set to Steal the Spotlight at Gulfood 2023

A delegation of 18 Philippine companies will showcase premium halal-certified food products through a country exhibit at the Gulf Food Hotel and Equipment Exhibition and Salon Culinaire, or Gulfood, to be held at the Dubai World Trade Centre in the United Arab Emirates from February 20 to 24, 2023.

Led by the Center of International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM), the Philippines’ hybrid participation will consist of 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.

The Philippine participation will highlight small and medium enterprises (MSEs) with halal certification and high-value and innovative products under the banner of the country's collective food promotion program, FOODPhilippines.

CITEM seeks to strengthen the Philippines’ presence in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region through its participation in Gulfood. Gulfood is a renowned international platform dedicated to food and beverage processing in the MEA, attracting more than 98,000 key industry players and decision-makers and over 5,000 exhibitors yearly. As one of the world's largest food and beverage trade exhibitions, Gulfood is instrumental in expanding the Philippines’ market share in the global halal trade.

Banana, one of the Philippines' top food exports, is among the products and ingredients that will be showcased in the Philippine pavilion.

“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.

Gulfood offers opportunities for Philippine exhibitors to connect with new buyers and expand their markets.

The UAE remains an attractive market for Philippine produce and goods as food exports to the country have remained steady amid the pandemic, according to the Philippine Trade and Investment Center (PTIC) in Dubai. It is also the most important import market for halal products in the Middle East along with Saudi Arabia.

“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 updated lead generation and digital promotion platforms for the food industry. This year, CITEM aims to enhance the country’s hybrid participation by providing a “365 sourcing experience” with a strategic combination of physical and digital components.

The Philippine pavilion will be located at booths R152 and R174 of the Sheikh Rashid Hall. The Philippines' hybrid participation is organized by the Department of Trade and Industry’s export promotion arm, CITEM, in partnership with PTIC-Dubai.

More products from Philippine Gulfood exhibitors, as well as hundreds of other small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), will be showcased at IFEX Philippines, which will be held at the World Trade Center Metro Manila in Pasay City, Philippines from May 26 to 28, 2023. You can also visit the exhibitors' digital storefronts at IFEXConnect.com or browse stories on the Philippines' rich food culture and culinary landscape at foodphilippines.com.

About CITEM

The Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM) is the export promotions arm of the Philippine Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

For nearly 40 years, CITEM has established the country’s image as a premier destination for quality export products and services. It continues to set the highest standards of creativity, excellence and innovation to achieve competitiveness in the home, fashion, lifestyle, food, creative, and sustainability sectors.

CITEM is committed to developing, nurturing, and promoting micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), brands, designers, and manufacturers by implementing an integrated approach to export marketing in partnership with other government and private entities.

About FOODPhilippines

FOODPhilippines promotes the country as a source of quality food products and ingredients in physical and/or digital trade shows and business-to-business platforms in priority markets around the world.

Under the FOODPhilippines banner, the Philippines is positioned as an exporter of healthy, organic, natural, and specialty food products and services.

Philippine Food Exporters Return Onsite at IFEX Philippines 2022

A multi-sensory experience awaits guests and participants as IFEX Philippines 2022, the country’s much-anticipated food trade show opens its doors at the World Trade Center Metro Manila from September 22 to 24.

Returning onsite since the pandemic, IFEX Philippines aims to showcase the best food products by local producers and manufacturers in a three-day event that includes thematic settings of distinct and innovative food and ingredients, networking and business-to-business (B2B) activities, talks and seminars, cooking demos and product presentations, special events, and more.

Expected to grace the opening of the event, either in person or via recording, are top foreign and national government officials including Sen. Cynthia A. Villar, Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food; Sen. Imee Marcos, Vice-Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food; Undersecretary Ireneo V. Vizmonte, Officer-in-Charge (OIC), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI); and Assistant Secretary Glenn G. Peñaranda, OIC, Trade Promotions Group (TPG).

Organized by the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM), IFEX Philippines is expected to attract around 3000 visitors and buyers, and feature thousands of top quality Filipino food products and ingredients from almost 400 exhibitors.

Spotlight on the crème de la crème

On its first day, IFEX Philippines will give recognition to new and innovative Filipino food products at Katha Awards for Food for 2022. Katha Awards aims to strengthen the reputation of the Philippines as a go-to destination for globally competitive food products. Katha recognizes exporters that explore new galleries of flavors, original brand ideas, unique food fusions, and creative packaging methods.

One winner from each product category will be selected for  Best  New  Product: Beverage; Fine Food and Specialties; Marine Products; Meat and Poultry Products; Snack Foods and Crisp Savoury Products; Baked Goods; Processed Fruits and Vegetables; and Natural, Healthy, and Organic Products. IFEX Philippines will also select one winner for the Best Booth Display.

New Flavors, New Features

During the three-day event, IFEX Philippines will feature a special section called Flavor Finds, a collection of new food discoveries and innovations in the Philippine food scene. Flavor Finds will showcase products from NXTFOOD PH, CITEM’s comprehensive product development and marketing program that aims to bring innovative Philippine food products to the global market. It will also showcase new products from select exhibitors and emerging Philippine food products and ingredients with tremendous export potential–ube, plant-based food, and Philippine craft beer.

Open House, another show feature, introduces the latest programs and activities within the food sector by showcasing products from IFEX Philippines partners. It will also highlight government efforts to champion Filipino food exporters, manufacturers, and MSMEs. Programs under Open House will include the following:

• COCONUTPHILIPPINES - A showcase of coconut products from food SME exporters under CoconutPhilippines, the country branding of the most versatile food produce of the Philippines. CoconutPhilippines is presented through the Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Plan (CFIDP) of the Philippine Coconut Authority under the Department of Agriculture.

• TASK Program ​(Technology Advice and Solutions from Korea) - A joint program by the Department of Science and Technology and the Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology that assists Philippine food companies in solving manufacturing issues such as product quality, production efficiency, and compliance with standards.​

• Philippine Craft Beer - Superior in quality and infused with distinct aromas and flavor profiles, the Philippine craft beer will be spotlighted in a unique booth setup with beer tasting activities. As one of the country's fast-rising industries, the craft beer industry aims to preserve the art of traditional brewery.

• RAPID Growth Program - The Rural Agro-enterprise Partnership for Inclusive Development and Growth (RAPID Growth) is a multibillion-peso value chain-based and market-driven business development initiative that aims to achieve inclusive and sustainable economic development for Philippine rural farming communities in the country.

• One Town, One Product (OTOP) Philippines - OTOP PHILIPPINES is a priority stimulus program for micro, small and medium-scale enterprises. The program enables localities and communities to develop and promote products or services that are rooted in their local culture, community resources, and competitive advantage.

• Processed Fruit and Nuts Pavilion - The Processed Fruits and Nuts (PFN) Pavilion features products from local enterprises under the Industry Cluster Enhancement Program of DTI. The cluster envisions the Philippines as a globally competitive supplier of quality processed fruits and nuts.

IFEX Philippines also has a dedicated space called the IFEX Kitchen for food-tasting activities, cooking demonstrations, and product presentations. Talks and seminars will cover topics such as sustainability in the food sector,  Kosher certification, intellectual property, FDA registration, and more.

IFEX Philippines 2022 will be held in partnership with DTI-Regional Operations Group and regional offices in Cagayan Valley, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, Bicol Region, Western Visayas, CARAGA, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, and Davao Region. Other government partners include DTI - Export Marketing Bureau (EMB), DTI - Foreign Trade Service Corps (FTSC), DTI - Philippine Trade Training Center (PTTC), Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA), Coconut Farmers & Industry Development Plan (CFIDP), RAPID Growth Project, One Town One Product (OTOP) Philippines, Department of Tourism - Tourism Promotions Board (DOT-TPB), Department of Science and Technology - Industrial Technology Development Institute (DOST-ITDI), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and Secret Kitchens of Samar. 

Industry partners include Philippine Exporters Foundation Inc. (PHILEXPORT), Philippine Food Processors and Exporters Organization, Inc. (PHILFOODEX), Integrated Food Manufacturers’ Assn. of the Phils. for Productivity (INFOMAPP), Philippine Confectionery, Biscuit and Snack Association (PCBSA), Brandexports, Northridge, and Craft Beer Association of the Philippines (CBAP). IFEX Philippines has also partnered with the Technology Advice and Solutions from Korea (TASK) Program, Chapter Coffee, Philippine Wine Merchants, and Bleeding Heart Rum, as well as media organizations COOK Magazine, Business Mirror, Philippine Graphic, Pilipino Mirror, Manila Bulletin, Philippine Daily Inquirer, and Philippine Star.

To learn more about the event, visit IFEXConnect.com.

About CITEM

The Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM) is the export promotions arm of the Philippine Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

For nearly 40 years, CITEM has established the country’s image as a premier destination for quality export products and services. It continues to set the highest standards of creativity, excellence and innovation to achieve competitiveness in the home, fashion, lifestyle, food, creative, and sustainability sectors.

CITEM is committed to developing, nurturing, and promoting micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), brands, designers, and manufacturers by implementing an integrated approach to export marketing in partnership with other government and private entities.

About IFEX Philippines

IFEX Philippines (formerly International Food Exhibition) is CITEM's long-running trade event and sourcing program for Philippine and global food and ingredients.

Together with IFEXConnect.com, IFEX Philippines serves as a one-stop business-to-business (B2B) platform aiming to optimize their sourcing experience of buyers from anywhere in the world.

IFEX Philippines is organized by the Center for International Trade Expositions & Missions (CITEM).