After growing 69% in food trade to the UAE in 2017, Peru aims to achieve more than 100% growth this year.
Speaking to Catering News Middle East on the side-lines of Gulfood 2018, Alvaro Silva-Santisteban, director, Peru Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism said: “Last year we did not just meet our monthly targets but our yearly target too and the numbers have been growing month by month.
“Our growth in just food has gone up by 69% and if you keep in mind that we are among the top 5 exporters in the world for a few products, the possibilities of us growing is tremendous,” he added.
The growing numbers validate the necessity of Peruvian products in the market, according to the director.
“The products are being perfectly accepted in the market. Our top performing products right now are pomegranates, mangoes, grapes, avocadoes and asparagus. I can say we have 75% of the asparagus market in the UAE,” he added.
With the current growth rate, Peru will also be looking at introducing healthy food supplies in the market, the director said.
“We have to overpower what we did in 2017, if we take 69% growth last year, we now have to do a 100% growth, so we are looking at it positively. The healthy side of things is going to be a topic we are working on, super foods is something we have to take into consideration to keep growing in the market that we have already established,” he said.
