Middle East organic market whets Thai food industry’s appetite

Thailand as a World’s major producer and exporter of organic food has shown a strong attention in offering their organic products to the fast-growing Middle East market.

Aimed at gaining access to the market, Thailand, has shown keen interest to be part of the upcoming Middle East Organic & Natural Products Expo Dubai 2021 to be held from December 6-8 at Dubai Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Organised by Global Links Exhibition, the Middle East Organic and Natural Product Expo Dubai is the Middle East’s sole trade fair that focuses on organic and natural products for the past 18 years. It also hosts the Middle East’s only dedicated online wholesale marketplace, ArabianOrganics, for organic and natural products, which is the B2B portal of the Expo.

Organic and healthy food products are fast becoming popular in the Middle East, offering Thai producers a great opportunity to enter the market. Agriculture is the backbone of Thailand and with the country aiming to promote itself as the centre of organic farming and become world’s major supplier of organic products, the Middle East market is very significant,” said Panot Punyahotra, Commercial Consul at the Office of Commercial Affairs, Royal Thai Consulate General, Dubai.

Prior to the Covid-19 crisis, the value of Thai food exports was estimated at $34.9 billion in 2020, an increase of 5.4 per cent from the previous year. Organic rice, coconut oil, herbs, and spices, as well as foods high in nutrients or superfoods from Thailand are high in demand in various markets.

Punyahotra, who had visited the Middle East Organic and Natural Product Expo Dubai last year to explore the market conditions, said that the DITP is very keen on the market and believes that the event provides the perfect platform for Thai producers to tap into the growing demand in the country and the wider region.

“With the Middle East importing up to 90 per cent of its food and more millennial opting for healthy eating and organic products, the demand for organic products is on the upswing in the region. At present, a significant proportion of organic fruits and vegetables are imported from Europe and elsewhere. Being the leading supplier of organics products, Thailand can offer an option to consumers here,” said Punyahotra.

The trend has reflected in the growth of the event too, with the Middle East Organic and Natural Product Expo Dubai more than doubling in size and introducing special components such as the Tea & Coffee Pavilion, the Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicine Conference, the Superfoods pavilion, the Ingredient Section, Fresh Produce Corner and the Date Pavilion, among others, in the recent past.

Held under the patronage of the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment and supported by International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements, the Middle East Organic and Natural Product Expo Dubai focuses on natural market segments such as food and beverages, health, beauty, living and environment. — business@khaleejtimes.com