Dubai: A large contingent of Thai farmers is bringing their fruits to the Middle Eastern market. The Department of Internal Trade led Thai farmers, community enterprises, and agricultural product aggregators to participate in the global food trade fair 'Gulfood 2026' in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, to promote Thai fruits, both fresh and processed, in the Middle Eastern market. The event provided a platform for farmers to conduct direct business negotiations with importers, retailers, and restaurants, thereby increasing trade opportunities and income for farmers.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Jirawut Suwannach, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Internal Trade, stated that Thai fruits, especially durian, mangosteen, mango, rambutan, and longan, are well-known and continuously popular among consumers in the Middle East due to their distinctive taste, aroma, and texture. This year, the Department of Internal Trade is showcasing quality fruits from actual production sources in the "Gulfood Green" zone, allowing buyers to sample the fruits to build confidence and foster long-term trade.
The agricultural products showcased at the event received significant interest, especially tropical fruits, which cater to the tastes of consumers in this region who prioritize food quality and safety. Presenting fruits directly from their source, along with offering samples at the event, helped build confidence and stimulated purchases, said Mr. Jirawut.
The Gulfood Green zone, an area showcasing fresh, clean, and high-quality produce, featured the Department of Internal Trade's booth displaying Thai fruits from farmer groups and community enterprises in various provinces. A B2B business negotiation forum was also held with target buyers, attracting numerous importers from the Middle East and Europe who expressed interest in potential business partnerships.
On the same occasion, the Department of Internal Trade also showcased "Precious Rice," high-quality indigenous rice varieties from various regions of Thailand. It was presented in both milled and cooked rice forms, allowing buyers to sample and learn about the unique characteristics of Thai rice, such as its aroma, texture, and production methods that reflect the identity of each community.
In addition, agricultural products that are consistently in demand in the Middle Eastern market are also featured, such as shallots, garlic, chili peppers, baby corn, lemongrass, galangal, kaffir lime leaves, etc., all of which have been carefully selected from farmer groups that consistently maintain high production standards.
Mr. Thanaphat Chawinach, manager of the Trat Provincial Agricultural Business Promotion Cooperative, who was one of the participants, said that participating in such a global forum opened farmers' perspectives on market opportunities and allowed them to understand the needs of importers directly. This serves as a motivation to further develop products to meet international standards.
Bringing Thai farmers, aggregators, and entrepreneurs directly to buyers in end markets helps foster mutual understanding regarding product standards, specific market demands, and opportunities for building sustainable business partnerships. This will enable Thai agricultural products to expand their markets steadily in the long term, said the Deputy Director-General of the Department of Internal Trade.