India named official partner country at Gulfood 2027 for second consecutive year

India has been designated the Official Partner Country at Gulfood 2027 for the second consecutive year, further strengthening the country’s presence at one of the world’s leading food and hospitality trade events and creating new opportunities for Indian food businesses to access international markets.

The partnership is expected to expand participation from micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), startups, and women- and SC/ST-led exporters, providing them with greater visibility and opportunities to connect with international buyers, distributors and business partners.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) and InD Events Dubai was signed in the presence of Sh. Rajesh Agrawal, Secretary, Department of Commerce, Government of India. The agreement marks another step towards enhancing India’s participation and representation at Gulfood, while promoting the country’s diverse food and agricultural export capabilities on the global stage.

The partnership will also contribute to strengthening India-UAE trade engagement under the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). With Dubai serving as a major international trade and logistics hub, Gulfood provides an important platform for Indian food exporters to expand their reach across the GCC, wider Middle East and African markets.

India’s continued role as the Official Partner Country also reflects the growing importance of Indian food and agricultural products in global markets. The participation will provide an international platform to showcase India’s capabilities across food processing, agricultural products, value-added foods, ingredients and other segments of the food and beverage ecosystem.

The announcement builds on India’s significant presence at Gulfood 2026, where the country took centre stage as the Partner Country with its largest-ever global presence, bringing together a broad representation of Indian exporters and food businesses. As reported by FoodTechBiz in “India Takes Centre Stage at Gulfood 2026 as Country Partner with Largest Global Presence,” the 2026 edition highlighted India’s expanding role in the global food trade and its growing engagement with international markets. The continuation of the partnership into Gulfood 2027 is expected to further build on this momentum and create new avenues for Indian food exporters worldwide.

Source - APEDA/Department of Commerce