A total of 29 Bangladeshi food and beverage manufacturing companies will take part in five-day ‘Gulfood-2020′ to be held in the World Trade Center in Dubai from February 16 to 20.

The companies are participating with the coordination of the Bangladesh Agro-Processors’ Association (BAPA) and assistance of Export Promotion Bureau (EPB).

The Bangladeshi companies including Hifs Agro Food Industries, Shoaib Enterprise, Bombay Sweets and Co Limited, Akij Food and Beverage Limited, Danish Foods Limited, Ahmed Food Products (Private) Limited, Banoful and Co Limited, Kazi Food Industries Limited, AG Agro Foods Limited, New Zealand Dairy Products Bangladesh Limited, Olympic Industries Limited, Banga Millers Limited, Haviganj Agro Limited, Mymensingh Agro Limited, Pran Agro Limited, Star Line Food Products Limited, Hashem Agro Processing Limited and Orion Tea Company Limited.

EPB Deputy Director Abu Mukhles Alamgir Hossain said the exhibitors will showcase products such as juice and drinks, snacks, spices, confectionery and bakery items in the Bangladesh pavilion.

He said Bangladesh participates in the Gulfood exhibition every year with a view to expanding its export market in the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia (MEASA) region.

He said the UAE, where nearly 1 million Bangladeshi expatriates live and work, has played an instrumental role in promoting Bangladeshi food products.

Bangladesh sets a good example in the developing world for attaining self-sufficiency in food production, he added.

He said the country successfully increased its agricultural yields manifold in the recent past despite a huge population pressure on cultivable lands.

These days, the EPB deputy director said, agriculture is not only a food grain provider to the country, but it has also emerged as one of the most important export-oriented industries.