The Indian government reaffirmed its commitment to enhancing market access and minimizing logistical challenges for the country’s agricultural and processed food exports. This assurance came during a high-level Chintan Shivir organised by the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) in the national capital.
Sunil Barthwal, Secretary of the Department of Commerce, underlined the importance of research, innovation, and multi-sectoral collaboration to unlock India’s agri-export potential. “Academia and research institutions must be actively involved in the policy discourse to ensure that innovation and sustainability remain at the core of our agricultural export strategy,” Barthwal said.
He also stressed that enhancing both agricultural production and productivity is critical in meeting growing international demand. The Ministry of Commerce & Industry, in its official release, reiterated its dedication to further exploring and acting upon the ideas discussed during the sessions.
The consultative forum brought together senior officials from the Centre and State governments, as well as industry leaders, policy experts, and representatives from the agri-trade and processed food sectors. Discussions focused on strengthening export infrastructure, improving compliance with global Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) standards, and fostering a cohesive export policy framework.
Subrata Gupta, Secretary at the Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI), co-chaired the inaugural session. He emphasized the need for infrastructure development, value addition, and greater synergy between government bodies and private stakeholders to fuel sustainable export growth. Highlighting the export potential in categories like alcoholic beverages, nutraceuticals, and value-added food products, Gupta called for focused efforts on upgrading tariff structures and international trade alignment.
Rajesh Agrawal, Special Secretary at the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, echoed these sentiments. He emphasized the importance of coordinated efforts among Union ministries, state governments, industry players, and the farming community to expand India’s agri-export footprint.
Varsha Joshi, Additional Secretary at the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, along with several other senior officials, also participated in the deliberations.
The Chintan Shivir marks a strategic push by the government to transform India into a global hub for high-quality agricultural and processed food exports through infrastructure upgrades, collaborative policymaking, and research-driven innovation.