The Philippines’ business mission to the Middle East, organized by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), generated $27.28 million in export sales.
Held from Feb. 7 to 21, 2025, the mission sought to expand market opportunities and strengthen trade partnerships for Philippine agricultural, fisheries, and personal care exports in key markets, including Doha, Amman, Riyadh and Dubai.
Filipino exporters engaged with buyers, distributors and industry leaders through store visits, supplier meetings and business-matching sessions.
The delegation also took part in Gulfood 2025, apprising exporters on market entry and compliance with the Qatar Ministry of Public Health and the Dubai Municipality.
Meanwhile, the Jordan Food and Drug Administration and the Jordan Ministry of Agriculture expressed strong interest in sourcing more Philippine marine products and tropical fruits, signaling growth in non-traditional export markets.
“The business-to-business [B2B] meetings provided us with valuable insights into our operations in the United Arab Emirates [UAE]. We realized that our current business structure for marketing our products is no longer adaptable to the area’s current setup. We have also identified other markets to explore, which has helped us recognize avenues for growth,” said HDR Foods Corp.’s Aris Unson
The Philippine Trade and Investment Centers in Riyadh and Dubai organized the event with support from the Philippine Exporters Confederation Inc. and in coordination with Philippine embassies.
Participating companies included Axelum Resources Corp., C and H Cosmetics Industry Daila Wholesale LLC., Destileria Limtuaco & Co. Inc., Dry Tech Manufacturing Corp., Ferino’s Bibingka, Fisherfarms, Inc. and Global Foodsolutions, Inc., among others.