The Agricultural & Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) organized a high-level "Chintan Shivir" in New Delhi to boost India's agricultural and processed food exports. The event gathered over 70 stakeholders, including government officials and industry leaders, to develop strategies for overcoming logistical challenges and enhancing global market access.
Speaking at the inaugural session, Sunil Barthwal, Secretary of the Department of Commerce, underlined the government’s commitment to streamlining logistics and fostering a collaborative environment for export growth.
He called for the active involvement of academia and research institutions to drive innovation and sustainability, emphasizing that both production and productivity are crucial to making Indian exports globally competitive. The Ministry, he said, would continue refining strategies based on the insights shared during the event.
Subrata Gupta, Secretary of the Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI), highlighted the need for modern infrastructure and value addition, calling for improved sanitary and phytosanitary standards in line with international benchmarks.
He stressed the importance of aligning efforts between the central and state governments and the private sector. He also identified high-potential export areas such as alcoholic beverages, nutraceuticals, and other value-added products.
Rajesh Agrawal, Special Secretary in the Commerce Ministry, echoed the call for deeper collaboration across all levels, from government to grassroots farming communities, to tap into India’s vast agri-export potential.
The Shivir, hosted at Vanijya Bhawan, witnessed participation from 14 states including Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, and Uttar Pradesh, along with leading agri-businesses such as Amul, LT Foods, KRBL, ITC, and Organic India. Discussions were organized into five focused sessions covering Basmati and non-Basmati rice, animal products, horticulture, processed foods, and organic products.
Each session explored actionable solutions to challenges like branding, regulatory alignment, logistics, and value chain development.
