Mindanao bizmen see good prospects in 'Dubai Gulfood'

DAVAO CITY -- Mindanao businessmen who participated in the recent investment mission and exposition in Dubai are eyeing business ventures with traders in the Gulf States.

This was disclosed by Amhed Jeoffrey J. Datukan, development management officer of the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) on Wednesday.

Datukan, who was with the Mindanao team in Dubai together with Minda's Executive Assistant Akhzanuniza Macatbar Alonto, said the mission was held simultaneously with the Outbound Business Matching Mission to Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.

Among the Mindanao-based companies and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) that joined the Gulfood were Alsons Aquaculture Corp. in Alabel, Sarangani province represented by deputy export manager, Mary Grace Bingco; Century Pacific Food, Inc. with Sherrylou M. Marzo, Export Sales and Marketing Section manager;

First Panabo Tropical Fruits Corp. Anflo Industrial Estate with Bernadette Tan, key accounts manager; MEGA Global Corp. with Janet Begasas, export development manager; and See International Food Mfg., Corp., with its president Ruben See.

"On the side, we see some prospects where our Mindanao businesses got to talk to their counterparts building linkages and connections," he said, adding there is a need to sustain the link to penetrate the large Dubai market.

“The market is huge and the potential is big," he said.

Gulfood, Dubai’s largest food, beverage, and hospitality fair, draws food and beverage industries and professionals from all over the world to the Gulf state, aiming to promote food and beverage industries. (PNA)