A TIVYSIDE business will be one of 10 companies flying the flag for Wales at the world’s largest food and drink trade event in Dubai in a bid to secure new international trade links.

Supported by the Welsh Government, Daioni Organic, from Ffosyficer Farm at Abercych, will join nine other firms from across the country for the prestigious event at Gulfood 2020 from February 16-20, under the Wales (UK) banner, all with the aim of promoting Welsh food and drink and to help the businesses achieve export success.

Daioni is a leading provider of premium quality organic milk and organic dairy products.

Its flavoured organic milk drinks were exported to overseas markets for the first time back in 2008 and it became the first British dairy company to gain organic certification in mainland China and commenced export to the Chinese market in 2012.

In 2014, Daioni Organic opened its Hong Kong office in order to focus on Asia-Pacific sales, with another office in Shanghai in 2014.

Daniel Jones, head of UK sales and marketing at Daioni, said: "It's an important show for and one we have done for the last seven years or so.

"The Middle East is important for us with the UAE, Qatar and Saudi Arabia key markets, and also the likes of Bahrain and Oman.

"We have new products we are taking over there for this particular show and it's all about meeting people face to face and building up a trusting relationship. We have launched a new iced coffee range recently in the UK and this is the first time we have launched it in the Middle East and it is very exciting for us."

The Gulfood event at the Dubai World Trade Centre is celebrating its 25th anniversary and Lesley Griffiths, Welsh Government Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs, believes that it is vital for the industry to take advantage of such opportunities to continue to strengthen relationships with key markets such as the UAE.

She said: “Wales has a long association with the Gulfood event that has helped bring an array of Welsh brands to the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) region.

“Welsh food and drink exports have increased 84% since 2014 and we consider the UAE region a key market for Wales.

“We are delighted to once again be participating at Gulfood to showcase our wide range of high quality food and drink products and look forward to another successful event as Wales continues to build on its strong connection with the food and beverage industry in the Gulf Cooperation Council area as a whole.

“Wales has a long and proud tradition of producing outstanding food and drink, but underpinning this tradition is a growing innovation landscape, bustling with unique products, diverse flavours and exciting new developments.”