India to launch hub to fast track agricultural exports to the Gulf

 

The opening follows the success of a trial shipment of locally grown vegetables to Dubai this month, state news agency WAM reported.

 

The shipment is the culmination of an enterprise inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Varanasi 18 months ago.

 

In July 2018, the Prime Minister inaugurated a cargo facility on the outskirts of the city to consolidate agriculture produce through farmer producer organisations in the area, process and pack them for exports.

 

That effort reached fruition this month when 14 metric tonnes of fresh vegetables cultivated by farmers in two districts in the Varanasi area were sent as a container-load on trial to Dubai.

 

An agricultural export hub has now been set up in Varanasi to build on the success of the Dubai trial.
 

Government and business agencies from five predominantly agricultural districts around Varanasi will now coordinate their activities to make the region a source of exports to the Gulf.

 

APEDA is an organisation under India’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry, responsible for promoting exports of agricultural and processed food products from India.