Commerce ministry to float draft agriculture export policy to boost outward shipments

The commerce ministry would soon float a draft agriculture export policy to seek stakeholders’ views with an aim to boost outward shipments by identifying new markets and products, a senior official on Tuesday said.
Joint secretary in the department of commerce Santosh Kumar Sarangi said that the commerce ministry is working on the policy.
It would focus on identifying markets, products and involve states to boost agri exports from the country, he said in New Delhi at the event of Trade Promotion Council of India (TPCI).
The country’s agri exports grew by 18 per cent to about USD 21 billion during April-October this fiscal.
Department of commerce in association with TPCI is organising Indus Food – a mega international food and beverage trade show.
The two-day show will be organised at India expo mart in Greater Noida from 18 January.
Over 400 exhibitors including representations from over 12 states are expected to participate in the show.
The event is expected to provide a good platform to Indian exporters to access global market without having the trouble of going to overseas trade fairs, TPCI chairman Mohit Singla said.
India’s food market stood at USD 193 billion in 2016, which is estimated to grow to USD 540 billion by 2020, he said adding that this is also likely to see doubling of Indian food exports in next five years from USD 31 billion in 2015.