The three-day exhibition, which completed on March 22, 2023, aimed to promote agricultural product exports in London's worldwide market. APEDA sponsored Indian exporters' participation in the IFE event, where they displayed a diverse range of food goods in all categories.
A large number of visitors were interested in the about 50 millet (Shree Anna)-based goods featured at the APEDA pavilion. APEDA presented and distributed the highest quality GI-tagged Alphonso mango, wine from lush grape vineyards, and millet-based value added goods during the IFE 2023 event.
With India commemorating the International Year of Millets in 2023, APEDA is aggressively pushing Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi's objective of promoting Millets (Shree Anna) in overseas markets by holding promotional events in foreign places and participating in global food shows.
In response to India's participation in the IFE, APEDA Chairman Dr. M. Angamuthu stated, "This vast market can be made more pragmatic by quarantine relaxations, importation incentives, and further market liberalisation."
He also stated, "The groundwork is being laid for India-UK FTA negotiations that will not only pave the way for large quantities of Indian products, but will also bring the cost of Indian products down relatively in days to come," adding that the Indian High Commission in London has been very supportive and is working to improve trade ties between the two countries.
The International Food & Drink Expo (IFE) is one of the most prestigious food promotion events in the United Kingdom. Around 25,000 participants from around the world met face-to-face at the event to try new products and explore new export potential through International Buyer Seller meets and B2B meetings.
The IFE is one of the well-established platforms for raising brand recognition and generating new business prospects in the United Kingdom, which is a large market for ethnic Indian food goods such as fresh fruits and vegetables, processed foods, and Indian rice, among others. APEDA exports high-quality food products to over 250 countries, including the United Kingdom. In the fiscal year 2021-22, India exceeded all prior records by exceeding a massive export target of USD 25 billion of APEDA products.
The APEDA is attempting to reach the USD 30 billion export target for 2022-23. The United Kingdom is a preferred destination for the export of Indian agricultural products, with APEDA exporting various agricultural products worth USD 421 million to the United Kingdom in 2021-22. APEDA is on track to exceed its prior export objective to the United Kingdom in the current fiscal year, having registered exports totaling USD 302 million (April-December 2022).
Basmati rice, buffalo meat, non-basmati rice, coarse grains, maize, groundnut, wheat, cereal preparation, processed vegetables, fresh fruits and vegetables, alcoholic beverages, coarse grains, and so on are the main agricultural food products exported to various countries, including the United Kingdom. India shipped around 13000 MT of Indian grapes, 4000 MT of mangoes, 5000 MT of onion, 2500 MT of millets, etc. to the United Kingdom, in addition to 1310 Million MT of basmati rice, etc.
APEDA recently held the Global Millets (Shree Anna) Conference in New Delhi to promote millet exports from India and give farmers with market access. The conference was attended by over 100 Indian millet exhibitors from various regions of the country, as well as approximately 100 international purchasers from countries such as the United States, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Germany, Vietnam, Japan, Kenya, Malawi, Bhutan, Italy, and Malaysia.
APEDA, in partnership with the Indian Institute of Millets Research (IIMR), Hyderabad, and respective state agricultural colleges, has incubated more than 200 start-ups to develop a range of millet-based value-added products to increase consumption.
