The Middle East’s largest gourmet food fair, Gulfood Dubai 2024, has become a platform for showcasing high-value food products from Costa Rica. From Feb 19-23, 2024, the event in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), saw a vibrant display of frozen tropical fruits, frozen shrimp, coffee-based energy drinks, roasted coffee, and chocolate powder.
The Trade and Investment Promotion Agency of Costa Rica (PROCOMER) led the charge to support new business development and enhance exports in the high-value food sector while also positioning Costa Rica as an attractive investment destination.
Among the Costa Rican companies attending were Fructa CR S.A., Frutera La Paz, Tertulia Brugge S.A., Thompson Coffee Ltda, Ecos Shrimp Group S.A., Rooster Energy, Beneficio La Eva S.A., and Café Montaña, with the latter four making their debut at the fair.
PROCOMER Export Development Manager Mario Sáenz said: “The Middle East is a strategic market for the Costa Rican food industry since it has consumers with a high purchasing power who demand quality and innovation in the products they purchase.
“For this reason, Gulfood is an opportunity for our export sector to position the diversity of the offer we produce and for us to be considered a strategic and differentiated commercial partner. Likewise, it represents a high potential to promote Costa Rica as an ideal investment destination, especially for the agri-food sector.”
Gulfood Dubai, hosting over 5,500 exhibitors from over 190 countries and attracting more than 100,000 visitors, served as a platform for Costa Rican exporters to familiarise themselves with market dynamics, forge new business connections, and stay abreast of industry trends and innovations.
Paul Homberger, representative of Rooster Energy, mentioned that, together with PROCOMER, they are exploring Gulfood, one of the world’s largest food and beverage fairs, to expose their products to the world and analyse the opportunities that could arise to expand their business.
Meanwhile, Luis Ávila, from Ecos Shrimp Group, commented that Gulfood Dubai is strategic for his company since it allows them to explore the possibility of opening new markets.
According to data provided by PROCOMER, the United Arab Emirates ranks as the third most crucial market for Costa Rican food exports in the Middle East, accounting for US$766,000 in trade and capturing a 16 per cent market share.
With Gulfood Dubai 2024 serving as a testament to the growing international presence of Costa Rican high-value food products, the event underscores the country’s commitment to fostering global trade partnerships and expanding its footprint in key markets. –
