A delegation of 20 Chilean companies took part in the Gulfood 2016 trade fair in Dubai between 21 and 25 February. They showcased Chile’s dried fruit products, particularly walnuts, almonds, raisins and prunes.

This year the international food fair placed its focus on the agroindustry and the Chileans had the opportunity to exhibit their products in different formats, such as snacks, juice drinks, water, salt with and without seasonings and honey, among other items, demonstrating that Chile’s industry has added value to offer the world.

The Chilean companies presented their products and received customers and future buyers in a pavilion measuring 192 square metres. “We’ve been really busy during these few days and the best thing is that we haven’t just made contact with people from the market but we’ve also talked with potential buyers from India, Pakistan, Morocco, the Lebanon and Israel. A great many different countries attended this fair, so we’re really pleased we came. This was our first year here and we hope to come back again next year,” explained David Valenzuela of La Invernada, a company which produces and exports walnuts.

Meanwhile the company Exportadora Baika has been coming to this food fair for three years and this time focussed its attention on looking for customers in new markets. “We’ve received interest and visits from buyers from a range of countries. We are currently present in Dubai and we want to keep expanding our presence. We’ve got lots of contacts to explore now,” said Felipe Valenzuela.

This was the first time at Gulfood for Juan Pablo Costaval of Calbu and Cristian Bravo of the Southers Group and they were very pleased with the results, as well as the support provided by Chile’s Trade Office in Dubai. “It was a very good opportunity, as the fair is just before the start of the walnut season. We received contacts from a range of markets, partly thanks to the location and design of Chile’s pavilion, which draws the attention of visitors,” explained Costaval.

Sharif Chacoff, Chile’s Trade Commissioner in Dubai, said that in general terms the fair had generated good results for the Chilean businesspeople. “They received visits and lots of positive comments about their products. As an office, we want to continue increasing the presence of Chilean products in the UAE and in other countries in the region and taking part in this trade fair is fundamental to achieving this,” he said.