Sri Lanka takes global stage at Gulfood 2026 with record number of exhibitors

Sri Lanka Consulate General in Dubai together with the Exports Development Board of Sri Lanka (EDBSL) and Sri Lanka Tea Board (SLTB) facilitated the participation of Sri Lankan businesses and industry representatives at Gulfood 2026, the world’s largest annual food and beverage trade exhibition. The event is being held at the Dubai World Trade Centre and Expo City from 26 to 30 January 2026.

The Gulfood is one of the largest and most influential food and beverage exhibitions in the world, bringing together over 6,500 exhibitors from around 120 countries. The event is recognised as a key trade platform for industry professionals to connect, discover new trends, and exchange insights on the future of food production, distribution, and consumption.

Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe, attended the Gulfood 2026 at the invitation of the event organisers and visited the Sri Lanka country pavilion at the Expo City and the SLTB pavilion at the World Trade Centre and engaged in discussion with the Sri Lankan exporters sharing his insights on food industry, agricultural exports, transformative technologies, challenges in expanding production and infrastructure and financing. 

The Gulfood 2026 presented a unique platform for Sri Lanka to showcase its rich culinary heritage, world-renowned agricultural products, and vibrant food and beverage industries to global buyers, distributors, and food professionals. The event provided an opportunity to feature an impressive array of Sri Lankan products, including tea, spices, coconut-based products, tropical fruits, processed foods, and organic ingredients, all of which have garnered a reputation for quality and authenticity across international markets.

This year, the Sri Lanka marked the highest number of participations at this annual event with a participation of more than 100 companies in the food and beverage sector. The delegation included key players in the agricultural, food processing, and hospitality sectors, all eager to explore new business opportunities and strengthen trade relations with the Middle East, Africa, and beyond. The Consulate General, in collaboration with Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB), is committed to providing continuous support for Sri Lankan exporters looking to expand their reach and enhance global partnerships.

Sri Lanka has long been known for its agricultural abundance, and its food products continue to enjoy a strong presence in global markets. This year Sri Lanka showcased the country’s commitment to sustainability, organic farming practices, and innovation in the food industry.

A business networking event was hosted by the Consul General of Sri Lanka to Dubai and Northern Emirates Alexi Gunasekera in honour of the Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development Minister at the Consulate General premises with the support from Department of Commerce of Sri Lanka. The event was attended by leading importers and distributors, investors, representatives of leading industries and Sri Lankan Professionals in the UAE on 26 January 2026 providing an opportunity to share insights with the Minister and the officials.

A round table discussion was also arranged with the senior representatives of the Indian Business and Professional Council (IBPC) in the UAE for the Minister to engage in an interactive dialogue to discuss on enhancing cooperation on trade and investments.

The Consulate General of Sri Lanka in Dubai together with Sri Lanka Embassy in Abu Dhabi facilitated a high-level meeting for the Minister with UAE Foreign Trade Minister Dr. Thani Bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi. They discussed a range of issues related to trade and investments and Minister Samarasinghe expressed Sri Lanka’s interest to entering into a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with the UAE. Prof. Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the UAE Arusha Cooray, Consul General of Sri Lanka to Dubai and Northern Emirates Alexi Gunasekera, and Head of Chancery of the Consulate General Subhashini Silva accompanied the Minister for the meeting.

During the meeting with Sharjah Chamber of Commerce Chairman Abdallah Sultan Al Owais, Samarasinghe discussed promoting bilateral relations in various sectors, including trade, tourism, and cultural exchanges and to enhance Sri Lanka’s economic presence in the region and facilitate business collaborations between Sri Lanka and the UAE and extended an invitation for the Chamber to lead a delegation to Sri Lanka Expo scheduled to be held from 18- 21 June 2026 in Colombo.

The Hon. Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development met with the Senior Officials of Emirates Airline Sky Cargo Manager Khalid Al Khatib alongside SAFCO International General Trading Co. LLC CEO Gagandeep Sahni at the exhibition venue and explored opportunities to strengthen Sri Lanka’s food exports to the UAE and Gulf region. SAFCO International is a leading food service distributor, importer and exporter of premium food and non-food products across the UAE, the Middle East and the global markets.