Notice to Applicants for the 2019 Gulfood Trade Show

Somalia Growth, Enterprise, Employment & Livelihoods (GEEL) Project DATE OF RELEASE: 15 December 2018 RE: Notice to Applicants for the 2019 Gulfood Trade Show The USAID/Somalia Growth, Enterprise, Employment & Livelihoods (GEEL) project promotes and facilitates inclusive economic growth in Somaliland, Puntland, Galmudug, South West State, Jubaland, and Hir-Shabelle. The project is focused on existing and new businesses of all sizes operating in the agriculture, fisheries, livestock and renewable energy sectors.

GEEL is seeking applications from Somali businesses to attend the 2019 Gulfood trade show event, the world’s largest annual food and beverages trade exhibition, from February 17 to 21, 2019 in Dubai. The five-day event features more than 5,000 exhibiting companies from over 120 countries and is designed to foster and grow businesses.

As in previous years, USAID will sponsor a booth at the trade show and will facilitate visa applications for representatives of Somali business interested to showcase their products and engage international markets. In 2018, Somali exhibitors established links with new markets and signed business agreements that led to exports valued at over $3.5 million. Under the Somali Rising brand, GEEL has reserved a large booth for Somali exhibitors in the Gulfood Pavilion and we look forward to showcasing collaborative and export-ready businesses who are able to deliver large quantities to new markets.

Gulfood 2019 offers unparalleled opportunities for face-to-face interactions with a wide array of potential customers, and will serve as an influential platform for companies, professionals and industry experts to meet, share information, and build lasting business relationships. Below are the application submission requirements: Complete the 2019 Gulfood fair participant assessment form and send to geelsomalia@gmail.com 1. Apply for your travel visa; GEEL will provide a supplemental visa application letter to relevant authorities to facilitate visa issuance for participating Somali businesses 2. Please email us at geelsomalia@gmail.com should you have any queries or require clarification.

Sincerely, USAID/Somalia Growth, Enterprise, Employment & Livelihoods Project