DTI, DA Lead Trade Mission to Middle East

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Department of Agriculture (DA) will jointly lead a business mission to the Middle East from February 7 to 21.

The initiative marks the first major activity under their recently signed memorandum of agreement on agriculture and fisheries export development and promotion.

The mission aims to expand market access and boost Philippine agricultural and fisheries exports, along with non-food products. It also seeks to strengthen trade partnerships with Qatar, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.

Formalized during the 2024 National Export Congress, the DTI-DA partnership seeks to enhance the global competitiveness of Philippine agribusiness. The initiative focuses on streamlining value chains, promoting value-added processing, and ensuring compliance with international standards. These efforts align with the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028 and the Philippine Export Development Plan 2023-2028.

A total of 26 Philippine exporters will participate in the Outbound Business Matching Mission, gaining direct access to buyers, distributors, and industry leaders in the region. The delegation will present sourcing opportunities through store visits, supplier meetings, and business matching activities in Doha, Amman, Riyadh, and Dubai.

Delegates will also engage with key regulatory bodies, such as the Qatar Ministry of Public Health and the Saudi Food and Drug Authority, to address market entry requirements and compliance issues.

The mission will culminate in Gulfood 2025, one of the world’s largest food and beverage sourcing events, where the Philippines will showcase its high-quality, sustainable, and competitive exports.

The Philippine delegation invites buyers, distributors, and industry stakeholders to the business matching sessions to connect with local exporters of frozen and fresh produce, processed food, and personal care products.

Business-to-business activities are scheduled in:

• Doha: February 9
• Amman: February 11
• Riyadh: February 12
• Dubai: February 14

For inquiries or to schedule a meeting, contact the Philippine Trade and Investment Centers (PTICs) at Dubai (dubai@dti.gov.ph) or Riyadh (riyadh@dti.gov.ph).