News Desk
BANGKOK — The Maldives Industrial Fisheries Company (MIFCO) is this week casting a wider net for its sustainably caught tuna, showcasing its premium marine products at the prestigious Grand Halal Bangkok expo in Thailand.
The three-day event, which runs from 15 to 17 July at the Bangkok International Trade and Exhibition Centre, is one of the world’s largest gatherings for the halal food industry. MIFCO’s participation, facilitated by the Maldivian Embassy in Thailand, signals a strategic pivot for the state-owned enterprise: moving beyond the bulk export of raw fish toward promoting high-value, processed tuna products to a sophisticated international audience.
“This exhibition serves as a critical platform to highlight the authenticity of Maldivian flavours and our commitment to sustainable pole-and-line fishing,” a MIFCO representative said. “It is an opportunity to forge new commercial partnerships and share our narrative of responsible harvesting with a global market.”
The scale of the event underscores its importance to the regional trade sector, with delegates from over 70 nations in attendance. Organisers expect between 12,000 and 15,000 visitors to traverse the exhibition halls, providing MIFCO with a captive audience of industry professionals.
For the Maldives, Thailand remains the primary destination for its fish exports. However, the current trade relationship is heavily skewed towards raw, unprocessed tuna. By engaging directly with regional buyers at the expo’s dedicated business-to-business (B2B) matchmaking sessions, MIFCO is seeking to disrupt this status quo. The company’s presence is designed to introduce high-end distributors and premium buyers across Asia to processed, ready-to-market Maldivian products.
This push into the Thai market aligns with the government’s broader economic mandate to diversify export routes and increase the value-added component of the nation’s fisheries sector. By leveraging official diplomatic channels through the Maldivian Embassy, the state is looking to provide a veneer of credibility that is essential when navigating the competitive, high-standard landscape of the international halal food trade.
As the expo concludes on Friday, the focus for the Maldivian delegation remains clear: to transform the Maldives’ reputation from a mere supplier of raw material into a recognised brand of high-quality, sustainably sourced seafood.