The participation of 41 Bangladeshi companies in the upcoming food and hospitality fair Gulfood, at the Dubai World Trade Centre from February 17-21 in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), has become uncertain as they are yet to get visas.

This has raised concerns among processed food exporters that they might lose potential export opportunities.

Bangladesh has a 324-square-metre pavilion, managed by the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), at the major global platform for the food and beverage industry.

A participant said the UAE imposed visa restrictions following protests by expatriate Bangladeshis in Dubai last July in support of the public sector job quota reform movement.

The Bangladesh Agro-Processors Association (BAPA) formally informed the EPB of the issue, prompting the bureau to request the commerce ministry's intervention, he said.

The ministry subsequently sought diplomatic assistance from the foreign ministry, he added.

Following this, Bangladesh's commercial counsellor in Dubai contacted the event organisers. Based on their advice, the visa process was initiated through an authorised agent, he mentioned.

To ensure compliance, the EPB obtained written bonds from participating companies stating that their representatives would return home after the fair.

The foreign ministry also issued letters of introduction for each participating company. Despite these measures, as of Wednesday, none of the company representatives had received their visas.

Md Iqtadul Hoque, general secretary of the BAPA, said they contacted the agent, who informed them via email that the embassy had yet to respond.

"If we are unable to participate, it could lead to a decline in product orders, which may hurt exports," he added.

Md Anwar Hossain, vice chairman of the EPB, told The Daily Star that all necessary steps for visa processing had been taken. The UAE has stated that they will look into the matter, he added.

However, there has been no response from their end so far, he added.

When The Daily Star reached out for a comment, the UAE Embassy in Dhaka declined to respond.

Insiders said 41 domestic companies secured booths through prior applications, each paying Tk 7.25 lakh to the EPB. The EPB provides a 30 percent subsidy on the booth cost.

Gulfood, organised by the Dubai World Trade Centre, serves as a key hub for securing large-scale procurement orders from buyers across the Middle East and Africa.

At the 2023 edition, nearly 5,000 companies from 120 countries participated, including 39 from Bangladesh. That year, Bangladeshi firms secured immediate purchase orders worth $14.1 million.