Sri Lanka to Showcase Largest Ever B2B Country Pavilion at Gulfood 2026 in Dubai

The Export Development Board (EDB) of Sri Lanka is set to organize the country's largest-ever Business-to-Business (B2B) pavilion at the prestigious Gulfood International Trade Fair 2026, scheduled to take place from January 26-30, 2026, in Dubai, UAE.

A special media briefing was held today at the Export Development Board (EDB), presided over by Mr. Mangala Wijesinghe, Chairman of the EDB, concurrent with the pre-fair workshop held to inform exporters participating in the exhibition. EDB officials, including Mr. Janaka Badugama, Director of the Export Agriculture Division, and exporters participated in this occasion.

Spanning an impressive 510 square meters at the Dubai Exhibition Centre in Expo City, the Sri Lanka Country Pavilion will feature 61 leading export companies showcasing a diverse range of products including coconut products, processed foods, spices, tea, and ready-to-eat items.

Gulfood, recognized as one of the world's most important food and beverage sourcing events, has consistently demonstrated its value as a premier platform for networking, innovation, and business development. The 30th edition of Gulfood reportedly generated approximately US$ 20 billion in trade deals over five days, attracting over 5,500 exhibitors from 129 countries and more than 144,000 visitors who explored over one million products.

The 31st edition of Gulfood 2026 will be hosted across two venues – the Dubai World Trade Centre and the Dubai Exhibition Centre – making it the largest edition to date.

Sri Lanka's participation in Gulfood 2026 represents a strategic initiative to expand the country's footprint in key international markets. In 2024, Sri Lankan agricultural commodities valued at US$ 1,381 million were exported to the MEASA region (Middle East, Africa, and South Asia), with food and beverage products accounting for US$ 1,171.31 million of this total.

"This event presents a strategic opportunity to showcase Sri Lanka's premium food and beverage products to a broader audience across the Middle East, Africa, South Asia, as well as the EU and related markets. Our main objective is to increase exports to the MEASA region by US$ 20-30 million by 2027," said Mr. Managala Wijesinghe, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Sri Lanka Export Development Board.

The Gulfood platform offers Sri Lankan companies an excellent opportunity to network with major industry stakeholders, capture new market opportunities, promote Sri Lankan brands, develop high-quality business contacts, and strengthen relationships with existing buyers through interactive experiences and business matchmaking programs.

The EDB's strategic focus on the Middle East region extends beyond Gulfood, encompassing participation in other key regional events including the Organic & Natural Expo Dubai, Beauty World Dubai, Middle East Rubber & Tyre Expo, and Foodex Saudi.

With increasing global attention on the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) region from countries including the EU, Japan, China, and Africa, Sri Lanka's strong presence at Gulfood 2026 positions the nation to capitalize on emerging trade opportunities and further strengthen its position as a reliable supplier of high-quality food and beverage products.

Source: adaderana