A delegation of 25 Filipino companies collectively secured approximately $133 million in export sales at the "Gulfood" expo, which took place in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), from February 19 to 23 this year.

According to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)—Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM), the group's export sales consist of booked orders and sales under negotiation. These were obtained following "matchmaking sessions" and business-to-business meetings.

In terms of dollar value, the top-selling products included fruit preserves, Cavendish bananas, fermented marine products, and amino sap beverages. The network steering committee representatives for their respective countries included Swennen (IITA), Alex Barekye (NARO-Uganda), Mpoki Shimwela (TARI-Tanzania), Benjamin Kivuva (KALRO-Kenya), Mary Mwanga (KU-Kenya), Immaculee Nishimwe (RAB-Rwanda), Celestin Niyongere (ISABU-Burundi), and Jules Ntamwira and Bagula (INERA-DR Congo).

This collaboration signifies a significant step towards enhancing banana breeding efforts in East Africa. It focuses on meeting the specific needs of the region's farmers and increasing food security and income by cultivating improved banana varieties for cooking.