The Consulate General of Sri Lanka in Dubai, together with the Export Development Board of Sri Lanka and the Sri Lanka Tea Board, facilitated the participation of Sri Lankan businesses and industry representatives at Gulfood 2026, the world’s largest annual food and beverage trade exhibition, held at the Dubai World Trade Centre and Expo City from 26 to 30 January 2026.
Sri Lanka Consulate General in Dubai together with Exports Development Board of Sri Lanka (EDBSL) and Sri Lanka Tea Board (SLTB) facilitated participation of Sri Lankan businesses and industry representatives at Gulfood 2026, the world’s largest annual food and beverage trade exhibition. The event held at the Dubai World Trade Centre and Expo City from 26 to 30 January 2026.
The Gulfood is one of the largest and most influential food and beverage exhibitions in the world, bringing together over 6,500 exhibitors from around 120 countries. The event serves as a key international trade platform for industry professionals to connect, discover new trends, and exchange insights on the future of food production, distribution, and consumption.
The Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development, Wasantha Samarasinghe, attended the Gulfood 2026 at the invitation of the organizers. The Minister visited the Sri Lanka pavilion at the Expo City and the Sri Lanka Tea Board pavilion at the Dubai World Trade Centre and engaged with Sri Lankan exporters, sharing views on food industry, agricultural exports, transformative technologies, challenges related to expanding production, infrastructure and financing.
Gulfood 2026 provided a platform for Sri Lanka to showcase its rich culinary heritage, world-renowned agricultural products, and food and beverage industries to global buyers, distributors, and professionals. Sri Lanka featured a wide range of products including tea, spices, coconut-based products, tropical fruits, processed foods, and organic ingredients.
Over 100 companies from Sri Lanka participated at the Gulffood this year. . The delegation included key stakeholders from agriculture, food processing, and hospitality, aiming to explore new business opportunities and to strengthen trade relations with the Middle East, Africa, and other markets. The Consulate General, in collaboration with the Export Development Board, will continue to support Sri Lankan exporters in expanding global partnerships.
A business networking event was hosted by the Consul General of Sri Lanka to Dubai and the Northern Emirates, Alexi Gunasekera, in honor of the Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development with the support from the Department of Commerce of Sri Lanka. The event, held at the Consulate General premises on 26 January 2026, was attended by leading importers, distributors, investors, representatives, and Sri Lankan Professionals in the UAE.
A round table discussion was also organized with the senior representatives of the Indian Business and Professional Council in the UAE, enabling the Minister to engage in a dialogue on enhancing cooperation in trade and investments.
The Consulate General of Sri Lanka in Dubai, together with the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Abu Dhabi, facilitated a high-level meeting between Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe and the Minister of Foreign Trade of the UAE, Dr. Thani Bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, during which matters relating to trade and investment were discussed, including Sri Lanka’s interest in entering into a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement with the UAE. The meeting was attended by the Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the UAE, Prof. Arusha Cooray; the Consul General of Sri Lanka to Dubai and the Northern Emirates, Alexi Gunasekera; the Head of Chancery of the Consulate General, Subhashini Silva; and the Coordinating Secretary to the Minister, Kosala Wilbawa.
During a meeting with the Chairman of the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce, Abdallah Sultan Al Owais, the Minister discussed strengthening bilateral relations in trade, tourism, and cultural exchanges, and enhancing Sri Lanka’s economic presence in the region. The Minister also extended an invitation to the Chamber to lead a delegation to Sri Lanka Expo scheduled to be held in Colombo from 18 to 21 June 2026.
The Minister also met with the Sky Cargo Manager of Emirates Airline, Khalid Al Khatib, together with the Chief Executive Officer of SAFCO International General Trading Co. LLC, Gagandeep Sahni, at the exhibition venue. Discussions focused on opportunities to strengthen Sri Lanka’s food exports to the UAE and the wider Gulf region. SAFCO International is a leading food service distributor, importer, and exporter of premium food and non-food products across the UAE, the Middle East, and global markets.
Consulate General of Sri Lanka
Dubai
29 January 2026
