Costa Rica’s food industry promotes high-value goods in the Middle East

• Costa Rica has participated in this trade show since 2016.

San José, February 20, 2020. The offer of differentiated foods in Costa Rica is exhibited at the most important trade show of the sector in the Middle East: Gulfood 2020. The event, which brings together over 98,000 visitors and more than 5,000 exhibitors from 193 countries, took place from February 17 to 20 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

The companies of Paradise Ingredients, Ingenio Taboga, Todo Natural, Costa de Oro, Tertulia Brugge and Productos Agropecuarios Visa, along with the Costa Rica Foreign Trade Promoter (PROCOMER), promote high-value goods such as bar mixers, aseptic banana puree, demerara sugar, dehydrated fruits, frozen fruits, roasted coffee and organic cocoa.

“Since 2016 we have been working to publicize and position the diversification and sophistication of Costa Rican food in the Middle East through the Gulfood trade show. As a result of this constant participation, successful business transactions have been achieved, such as the placement of banana puree in New Zealand,” stated Álvaro Piedra, Director of Exports at PROCOMER.

Ronald Segura, President of Costa de Oro, commented that this second visit to the Gulfood trade show has been quite positive for his company. “This event demonstrates great potential for the introduction of 100% finished and high added value products, where we can sell our brand. The quality of the buyers that participate is very high, and that makes meetings and monitoring the process of the negotiation much easier.”

Piedra added that one of the most important reasons for national exporters to participate in this type of trade show is that they have the opportunity to learn about the competition, the culture and dynamics of the market, and consumer trends in the Middle East and other markets.

The food industry represents 13% of Costa Rica’s exports of goods. In 2019, this sector exported $1,530 million US dollars and the products with the highest growth were: syrups and concentrates (+ $38 million), preserved fruits (+ $5 million) and preparations for making beverages (+ $4 million).