Damascus, Feb.01 (SANA) Syria’s participation in the Gulfood 2026 international food exhibition in Dubai yielded positive results, as national companies held direct meetings and reached practical understandings with importers and international firms to export Syrian food products, reinforcing the re-emergence of Syrian goods in global markets.
The participation reflected growing international confidence in Syrian food industries and opened channels for expanding exports, particularly through professional networking and direct business engagement during the exhibition.
Manhal al-Fares, director general of the Export Development and Promotion Agency, told SANA on Saturday that Syria’s presence at Gulfood, which concluded on Friday, confirmed the competitiveness of Syrian food industries in terms of quality, product diversity and compliance with specifications. He said Syrian products have become suitable for export to dozens of international markets.
Al-Fares noted that discussions held during the exhibition revealed real demand for Syrian food products, explaining that the main challenge facing exporters at this stage lies not in quality, but in effective organization and sound management mechanisms capable of sustaining export growth.
He stressed that exporting is no longer a secondary option, but an economic and sovereign necessity, as it contributes to increasing production, creating job opportunities and securing a real inflow of foreign currency away from short-term solutions.
Al-Fares added that the Agency, under the supervision of the Ministry of Economy and Industry and in cooperation with the Syrian Exhibition and International Markets Corporation, is working to expand the Syrian pavilion at future editions of Gulfood to ensure broader participation and stronger impact for national companies.
In recognition of their efforts, the Ministry of Economy and Industry honored 39 Syrian companies that took part in the exhibition, acknowledging their role in strengthening the presence of Syrian products in regional and international markets.
Gulfood 2026, which opened on Jan. 26, featured around 8,500 exhibitors from 195 countries, showcasing nearly 1.5 million products, consolidating its position as one of the world’s largest global platforms for the food sector and a major meeting point for producers, suppliers and exporters worldwide.
R.D
