Peru showcased its range of produce at Gulfood 2015 after it was revealed that total exports to the UAE grew by 700% between 2011-14.
Nine food sector companies from Peru participated at the event, and according to Ernst & Young’s 2014/5 Peru Business & Investment Guide, in addition to being the number one exporter of organic coffee and producer of paprika, organic bananas, fishmeal and fish oil, Peru is the second ranked exporter of asparagus and avocados, number four exporter of evaporated milk and top 10 mango producer.
Trade, Tourism and Investment Office of Peru in the UAE's director Alvaro Silva Santisteban told Caterer Middle East: "We saw a growth of more than 700% in terms of our exports. The region in terms of what it represents for us – it represents a new frontier."
He said that Peruvian exports are already very consolidated in the American and European market, and the GCC is one of the platforms where the company wants to capitalise on.
Santisteban added: "In addition to the UAE, Saudi Arabia has shown a very big growth, as well as Kuwait and Qatar."
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He continued: "The latest figures that we received, in terms of fresh produce, from 2013-2014, is that the exports of fresh produce from Peru to Dubai have increased by 250%. This is the most solid market. The US increased by 45%, Europe increased by 40%."
Peruvian aquaculture is also an important economic contributor with US$89.4 million worth of exports recorded in Q1 2014, which represented a 62% increase over the same period in 2013, according to the Association of Exporters. However, seafood is one sector Santisteban is keen to improve in the GCC. "We would like to see our growth on the seafood side. We had a good start a couple of years ago but it hasn’t grown like the other sectors have. So we’re going to be focusing on the seafood side."
The firm also plans to foritfy its presence on the superfood side, along with increasing citrus food exports, and on avocadoes, mangoes, graps and asparagus.
Companies which exhibited at the Peru National Pavilion included Agro Fergi, Agromix Industrial, Andes Alimentos & Bebidas, Andes Mills, Chanchamayo Highland Coffee, Danper Trujillo, Gloria, Villa Andina and Viniculos Agricolas, which showcased products including fruits and vegetables, quinoa grains and flour, raw cacao powder, chia drinks, spices, gourmet dips, evaporated milk, dried fruits, fair trade jams and juices, and organic coffee.
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