SINGAPORE - Food companies in Singapore donned their aprons to give local tastes and flavours a global exposure.

A record 57 food companies participated in the annual Gulfood 2017 exhibition - world's largest food & beverage show - in a quest to place Singapore's food industry on a global platform.

Led by Singapore Food Manufacturers' Association (SFMA), the Tasty Singapore pavilion showcases new and innovative products to a wide range of existing and prospective clients at the exhibit at the Dubai World Trade Centre from Feb 26 to Mar 2.

SFMA, in partnership with International Enterprise (IE) Singapore, has introduced products with 'Healthier Choice' logos from over 12 companies and 'Food Innovation Product Award' entries from more than 20 companies within the Pavilion for the first time.

The initiative is in line with the Food Manufacturing Industry Transformation Map (ITM) to build consumer-centric food solutions.

Trade shows are a great platform "for our companies to interact with potential distributors/buyers, obtain market and competitor insights and build global mindshare for their products," said Mr Jimmy Soh, Deputy President of SFMA.

According to IE Singapore, sales of packaged and processed foods across the Middle East are expected to grow to US$52 billion in 2017, presenting exciting opportunities for food manufacturers around the world.

Singapore's well-regarded Halal food system and its firms' ability to create innovative products to suit market requirements place it in a strong position to capitalise on the region's potential, the IE statement said.