In an address at the World Spice Congress 2023, Union Minister for Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal, called upon the spice industry to unite in exploring fresh markets, fortifying existing ones, and emphasizing value-added products to achieve the ambitious goal of reaching $10 billion in spice exports by 2030. Goyal emphasized that the current spice export figure stands at $4 billion and suggested a shift from raw spice exports to value-added products to drive growth.
Goyal illustrated the potential for success by citing the example of turmeric, whose demand surged during the Covid-19 pandemic due to its medicinal properties. He estimated that turmeric exports alone could reach $2 billion if value-added products were developed.
Additionally, Goyal proposed the creation of a ‘Bharat’ brand or certification that signifies high-quality and premium spice products, emphasizing the importance of maintaining the industry’s reputation on the global stage.
Highlighting the global Indian diaspora of over 35 million people, Goyal encouraged leveraging their potential to expand spice consumption in other communities and to serve as brand ambassadors, facilitating international market growth.
Goyal commended the Spices Board for resuming the Spice Congress after a seven-year hiatus and urged them to organize a world-class exposition, symposium, and conference in Delhi in 2024 to captivate international players, competitors, and buyers.
The minister emphasized that it is the perfect time for the spice industry to seize the global market, promoting India as the preferred source of spices due to its rich cultural heritage and diverse spice offerings, such as saffron from Kashmir, black pepper from Kerala, ginger from Gujarat, and chilli from Nagaland.