India to Return as Official Partner Country at Gulfood 2027 for Second Consecutive Year
Gulfood 2027 to Widen Participation of MSMEs, FPOs, Startups and Women- and SC/ST-led Exporters
India’s participation at Gulfood 2027 received a significant 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, in the presence of Commerce Secretary, Shri 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 India’s participation at Gulfood 2026.
Shri Rajesh Agrawal said that India’s continued status as the Official Partner Country at Gulfood reflects the growing strength and global recognition of the country’s agri-food sector. He said the partnership will provide Indian exporters with an expanded platform to connect with international buyers, strengthen market access and deepen India-UAE trade engagement under CEPA.
Vice President - Exhibitions Department and Growth for Food & Hospitality, InD, Mr. Mark Napier said that India’s strong and diverse food ecosystem, combined with its growing export capabilities, makes its participation an important part of the global food trade platform. He said the organisers look forward to building on the success of 2026 and facilitating deeper connections between Indian exporters and buyers from across the world.
The MoU was signed by Secretary, APEDA, Dr. Saswati Bose and Vice President - Exhibitions Department and Growth for Food & Hospitality, InD, Mr. Mark Napier.
The event was attended by Additional Secretary, Department of Commerce, Government of India, Shri Nitin Kumar Yadav; Economic Advisor, Department of Commerce, Government of India, Smt. Priya P Nair; Chairman, APEDA, Shri Abhishek Dev; Director, Department of Commerce, Smt. Monica Gaur; AVP - Commercial, Exhibitions Department, InD, Ms. Salima; Managing Director, Comnet Exhibitions, Ms. Chandrika Behl; and other senior officers from the Ministry and APEDA. The signing marks an important step towards strengthening India’s presence at Gulfood 2027 and providing greater global visibility to India’s agricultural and processed food products.
The collaboration is expected to enhance international visibility and export opportunities for Indian exporters by providing a stronger platform to showcase India’s diverse agricultural and processed food products to global buyers. Gulfood 2027, scheduled from 15-19 March 2027 in the UAE, is one of the world’s leading food and beverage trade exhibitions, offering a major platform for international business engagement and market exploration.
Building on the momentum of the previous edition, India’s continuation as the Official Partner Country will further strengthen its positioning as a reliable and diversified supplier of agricultural and processed food products. The partnership will also support deeper India-UAE trade engagement under the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), while leveraging Dubai’s strategic position as a gateway to the GCC, wider Middle East and African markets.
India’s participation will focus on showcasing premium, branded, innovative and value-added food products alongside its established commodity strengths under a unified national platform bringing together exporters, FPOs, MSMEs, startups, commodity boards and government institutions. Curated B2B meetings, product showcases, conferences and industry engagements will facilitate connections with international buyers and support new business partnerships and export opportunities.
A key focus will be on widening participation from MSMEs, FPOs, startups and women- and SC/ST-led exporters from across India, enabling emerging businesses and producers to gain greater international visibility and connect with global markets.
The partnership will further strengthen India-UAE trade engagement under CEPA and reinforce the region’s role as a key gateway for Indian food products to the GCC, wider Middle East and African markets.
