APEDA and InD Events Dubai sign an MoU for India’s participation as Official Partner Country at Gulfood 2027, strengthening food export opportunities.
NEW DELHI: India’s participation at Gulfood 2027 received a major boost with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) and InD Events Dubai at Vanijya Bhawan, New Delhi, on 16 September in the presence of Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal.
India will return as the Official Partner Country for Gulfood 2027, marking the second consecutive year of the partnership and building on the visibility and business momentum generated through its participation at Gulfood 2026.
Speaking at the occasion, Rajesh Agrawal said India’s continued status as the Official Partner Country reflects the growing strength and global recognition of its agri-food sector. He said the partnership would provide Indian exporters with an expanded platform to connect with international buyers, strengthen market access and deepen India-UAE trade engagement under the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).
Mark Napier, Vice President – Exhibitions Department and Growth for Food & Hospitality, InD, said India’s diverse food ecosystem and growing export capabilities make its participation an important part of the global food trade platform. He added that the organisers look forward to building on the success of 2026 and facilitating stronger connections between Indian exporters and buyers from around the world.
The MoU was signed by Dr. Saswati Bose, Secretary, APEDA, and Mark Napier, Vice President, InD
The signing ceremony was attended by Nitin Kumar Yadav, Additional Secretary, Department of Commerce; Smt. Priya P Nair, Economic Advisor, Department of Commerce; Abhishek Dev, Chairman, APEDA; Ms. Monica Gaur, Director, Department of Commerce; Ms. Salima, AVP – Commercial, Exhibitions Department, InD; Ms. Chandrika Behl, Managing Director, Comnet Exhibitions; and other senior officials from the Ministry of Commerce and APEDA.
Scheduled for 15–19 March 2027 in the UAE, Gulfood is one of the leading international food and beverage trade exhibitions. India’s continued participation as Official Partner Country is expected to strengthen the international visibility of its agricultural and processed food products and create further opportunities for exporters to engage with global buyers.
India’s participation will showcase premium, branded, innovative and value-added food products, alongside established commodity strengths, through a unified national platform bringing together exporters, Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), MSMEs, startups, commodity boards and government institutions.
The programme is expected to include curated B2B meetings, product showcases, conferences and industry engagements to facilitate new business connections and export opportunities. Particular emphasis will be placed on increasing participation from MSMEs, FPOs, startups, and women- and SC/ST-led enterprises, enabling emerging businesses and producers to gain greater international exposure.
The partnership will also leverage Dubai’s strategic position as a gateway to the GCC, wider Middle East and African markets. With India-UAE trade ties continuing to develop under CEPA, the Gulfood platform is expected to provide Indian food exporters with opportunities to explore new markets and strengthen existing international business relationships.
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