Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) organized a Virtual buyer-seller meet with UAE on 16th March 2022 to further strengthen the trade relations with UAE post-historic Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) to boost the merchandise trade between the countries to $100 billion over the next five years.
India and UAE have been strategic partners right from the diplomatic ties since 1972. The promotion of innovative & indigenous agricultural products of Kerala was the prime aim of the virtual buyer-seller meet with UAE.
This interactive meeting between exporters & importers is in fact a unique opportunity to capture the emerging trends in UAE market realizing the export potential of Kerala.
TV Subhash IAS, Director of Agriculture, Govt of Kerala, Sandeep Kumar Bayyapu IFS, Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of India, Abu Dhabi & Dr. Tarun Bajaj, Director, APEDA gave the special addresses in the event.
E-catalogue of the VBSM with UAE is jointly released by Dr. Tarun Bajaj, Director, APEDA & Sandeep Kumar Bayyapu IFS, Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of India, Abu Dhabi. Simi Unnikrishnan, AGM, APEDA Regional In charge gave a brief on the topic ‘Exploring export of potential products of Kerala’. An interactive session of Exporters of Kerala & Importers of UAE has been organized during the programme.
APEDA’s products worth 129.55 US $Mill Value (Qty: 88,881.21MTs) have been exported from Kerala to UAE in 2020-21. The country has a share of 24.97% (2019-20), 27.90% (2020-21) and 31.75% (2021-22 Apr-Dec) in exports from Kerala.
The major APEDA products exported from Kerala to UAE are Cashew Kernels, Other Fresh Fruits, Other Fresh Vegetables, Non - Basmati Rice, Milled Products, Dairy Products, Miscellaneous Preparations, Processed Vegetables, Cereal Preparations, Processed Fruits, Juices & Nuts alcoholic beverages, jaggery & confectionery, floriculture, cocoa products, pulses etc.
There is a shifting paradigm in the export of Agri products to UAE, the potential products exported to UAE have been changing trends paving the way to new additional products in the last few decades. The export of bananas from Kerala has increased by 47% to UAE as compared to the previous year, still, there is enormous potential to tap. There is also an increase in the export of shallots, pineapple, mangoes sliced/dried to the country.
In this scenario, Kerala, a coastal state located on a transnational trade corridor is a homeland for several innovative agricultural products. There is rich potential in Kerala for organic exports. Some of the farming systems such as Pokkali and Kaipad cultivation and homestead farming systems all over the state are default organic. However, they need to be promoted in international markets when pandemic has paved way for demand for these nutritional organically produced farm products.
There are 6 GI-tagged varieties of rice grown in Kerala. Few of them like Navara, Kaipad rice, Pokkali rice have medicinal benefits too. Jack fruit, which is the state fruit of Kerala, is a healthy & nutritious tropical fruit used as both vegetable & dessert.
Every part of the fruit and tree has health and economic value. Garcinia cambogia, a tropical fruit also known as the Malabar tamarind was also promoted in VBSM with other products. Likewise, there are enormous products in Kerala like Vazhakulam Pineapple, Marayoor Jaggery, Bananas, Mangoes, Tapioca, bird’s eye chilli & value-added products like Banana chips, Carrot chips, Jackfruit chapathi flour, Millet Barfi, Ragi puttu powder, Arrow root powder, Tapioca noodles, Ragi pasta etc.
In spite of having a wide range of nutritional products, the export potential of Kerala is not tapped to the desired extent. This VBSM with UAE was a trade corridor to showcase the enormous export potential of Kerala.
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