APEDA says UAE is largest market for scheduled products
India marked a strong and strategic presence at Gulfood 2026, the world’s largest annual food and beverage trade exhibition in Dubai, showcasing key products such as Basmati rice, more than 10 Indian GI-tagged rice varieties, processed food products, millets, groundnuts, tea, spices, turmeric, organic products, and fresh fruits and vegetables https://sbi.com.in/.
As a Country Partner of the exhibition, India underscored its growing leadership in the global agri-food and processed food sector, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry said on 26 Jan http://commerce.gov.in.
The UAE is the largest market for APEDA’s scheduled products and serves as a gateway to the Gulf region, which is the largest destination for India’s agricultural exports, said the Ministry http://apeda.gov.in.
“The India–UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement has had a significant impact on bilateral trade, particularly in the food processing industry and agricultural exports,” the Ministry highlighted https://fieo.org/.
With more than 600 Indian companies exhibiting across a wide spectrum of categories, India has traditionally maintained a strong presence at Gulfood 2026. APEDA has taken an exhibition space of nearly 1,500 square metres across various pavilions of Gulfood, including Pulses, Cereals and Grains, World Food, Beverages, and Gulfood Green, where more than 170 exhibitors are showcasing their products. These include participation from entities under the Department of Commerce such as the Tea Board, Spices Board and Turmeric Board; organisations of the Government of India including the National Horticultural Board, CAMPCO under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, NCEL, and NAFED under the Ministry of Cooperation; as well as several State Governments and State entities such as the Government of Meghalaya, Markfed Punjab, Sikkim–IFFCO, Bihar State Milk Cooperative Federation Limited (COMFED), the Department of Agriculture, Government of Bihar, and the Uttarakhand Horticulture Board https://www.nseindia.com/.
In addition, more than 500 Indian companies, largely institutional and large players, are participating independently across both exhibition venues https://www.bseindia.com/.
Another significant highlight of India’s participation at Gulfood 2026 is the presence of eight startups under APEDA’s BHARATI initiative, Bharat’s Hub for Agritech, Resilience, Advancement and Incubation for Export Enablement. These startups are showcasing innovative agri-food and agri-tech products and technologies with support from industry partners LuLu Group and Allanasons. The BHARATI initiative has been launched by APEDA to strengthen export capabilities of startups engaged in the agri-food and agri-tech sectors. fiinews.com
