In a meeting with the Export Promotion Councils today, the Union Minister of Commerce & Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution and Textiles Shri Piyush Goyal unveiled a significant initiative to issue system based automatic ‘Status Holder’ certificates under the Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) 2023. Now the exporter will not be required to apply to the office of Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) for a Status Certificate and the export recognition will be provided by the IT system based on available Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics (DGCIS) merchandise export electronic data and other risk parameters. 

 

This perspective is a paradigm shift in doing things as it not only reduces compliance burden and promotes ease of doing business but also recognizes the need and importance of collaboration within the Government. At present, the exporter is required to file an online application along with an export certificate from a Chartered Accountant for grant of Status. The DGFT Regional Offices, as per the laid down timelines are supposed to issue the certificate in 3 days. The new arrangement will lead to a simplified regime where no applications are invited from exporters and the certification is granted every year in August based on annual export figures available with the partner government agency i.e. DGCIS. 

 

Exporters who are eligible for a higher status based on additional export data relating to services export, deemed exports or double weightage to some entities like MSME etc., which is not getting captured in disaggregated form presently, can apply online for a Status modification also at a later date.

 

The Status Holder certification program provides credibility to the Indian exporters in the international markets. In addition, it provides certain other privileges including simplified procedures under FTP 2023 and priority custom clearances on self-declaration basis, exemption from compulsory negotiation of documents through banks, exemption from filing Bank Guarantee for FTP schemes etc. 

 

With the launch of this new system, the Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry will be recognizing about 20,000 exporters under FTP 2023 as Status Holders which will be a quantum jump from the earlier number of 12,518 exporters. The biggest increase in Status certification is seen in the 1 Star category, which is the lowest category and requires a export performance of at least US$ 3 Million in the last 3 preceding financial years plus the 3 months of the current financial year. This will enable the Government to hand hold a larger number of small exporting entities and create a vibrant export ecosystem and help reach our export target of US$ 2 Trillion by 2030.

 

In line with digital India ethos, various e-initiatives have already been implemented where no manual examination or processing is required and various permissions/authorisations are issued under FTP 2023 based on a risk management system and self-declarations of the exporter including 24X7 online issue of Importer Exporter Code number (IEC), issue and renewal of Advance Authorisations.

Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan on Monday said that India and Tanzania are growing in terms of trade and investment 'The numbers are satisfying,' further noting that India is the third largest trading partner in Tanzania.

While addressing the media after the exchange of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Tanzania, she said, 'On trade and investment, the numbers are satisfying. We are growing. In investment Indian investors in Tanzania, the number is growing. The value of the projects is growing as well. On trade volumes, the numbers are growing. As we're speaking up to 2022, our figures were USD 3.1 billion. So this makes India the third largest trading partner in Tanzania and the fifth largest investor in our country.'

She further added that through this visit, both countries have managed to open more avenues of cooperation for economic development as well as political development.

'To us, Tanzania India is like an extended family member which is just a cost away. There's a story that before Gandhi's return to India he made a stop to Zanzibar on his way to South Africa. This and many more other tells signifies the historical brotherly ties and brotherly ties and friendship that span a century,' she said.

Tanzanian President further lauded PM Modi for successfully hosting the G20 Summit.

 

'My visit is occurring just a few weeks after the G 20 summit...I wish to commend honourable Modi and the government of the Republic of India for the successful hosting of the G 20 summit,' she said.

This visit is to reaffirm the commitment by Tanzania to enhance and deepen the historic friendship and bilateral cooperation that has existed over decades.

'It is also an opportunity for us to express our sense of gratitude for the invaluable support rendered by the government and the people of India to our socio-economic endeavours. Over decades we have been working together in the development of various sectors, as they have been mentioned by His Excellency,' Hassan said.

The government is considering imposing a 25% duty on exports of molasses - a by-product of sugarcane and key ingredient for ethanol productions - as it expects a decline in sugar production in the upcoming season, senior officials said.

 

The curbs on exports are expected to boost the availability of molasses for domestic distilleries, which will help them meet the government's ethanol blending target, said an officer on condition of anonymity.

 

India witnessed the driest August in 122 years with rainfall during the month being 36% below average, causing damage to the sugarcane crop in key cane-producing states such as Maharashtra and Karnataka.

 

In August, the Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA) released its preliminary estimate of sugar production for the 2023-24 season at 317 lakh tonnes against 328 lakh tonnes for the current season. The sugar year starts in October and ends in September next year.

 

However, ISMA said it is expected to come out with a more accurate estimate after a satellite assessment of the sugarcane plant by mid-October. This is despite the area under the sugarcane area going up to 59.91 lakh hectare this year from 55.66 lakh hectare last year.

 

The Netherlands, the Philippines, Vietnam, South Korea, and Italy are the top buyers of India's molasses, which is mainly used as cattle feed. Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Karnataka are the three states which export molasses from India.

 

Mushk Budji -- the indigenous aromatic rice variety from Kashmir -- is likely to get a major boost in its yield with the Jammu and Kashmir authorities planning to expand its cultivation area to 5,000 hectares in the next three years, a senior official has said. According to experts at the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST), this high-cost traditional variety of rice was on the verge of extinction and was pushed to a few pockets of the Valley because of its susceptibility to blast disease.

 

Besides, non-uniformity in the produce, lack of quality seed, poor yield potential due to the mixing of strains and also due to area expansion under high-yielding paddy varieties led to shrinking of acreage under it, they said.

 

Mushk Budji, mostly grown on over 250 hectares in five villages of Kokernag in south Kashmir, received a Geographical Indication (GI) tag in August due to the concerted efforts by the agriculture department and SKUAST.

 

'The niche crop is grown in particular climatic conditions and we are exploring various areas in different parts of the Valley to expand its acreage.

 

'We aim to bring 5,000 hectares of land under crop cultivation in the next three years under the holistic development of agriculture and allied sectors scheme,' Chowdhary Mohammad Iqbal, the director of the Department of Agriculture Production and Farmers Welfare, Kashmir, told PTI.

 

Last year, Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha approved the Holistic Development of Agriculture and Allied Sectors programme, with an outlay of Rs 5,013 crore over the next five years and covering 29 projects.

 

The aim is to transform the agriculture economy and put Jammu and Kashmir on a new trajectory of growth, boosting exports and heralding a new phase of farmer prosperity and rural livelihood security in the Union territory.

 

'We have been successful in expanding the Mushk Budji to Budgam and are expecting more farmers to grow the crop, leading to its increased production to meet the growing demand,' Iqbal said.

 

According to the experts, as part of the programme to revive the cultivation of Mushk Budji, Sagam and adjoining villages in Kokernag in Anantnag district were identified in 2013.

 

Officials said the success of Mushk Budji in Anantnag led to a variety of testing programmes in non-traditional areas under similar ecologies. The agriculture department with the help of SKUAST-Kashmir brought in a new variety of Mushk Budji seeds.

 

'The new seed is resistant to diseases and changing climatic conditions. With the setting up of farmers producers organization, we are endeavouring to make Mushk Budji tap the national and international markets,' Chowdhary Mohammad Iqbal said.

 

Referring to the week-long 'GI Mohatsav' which started at 'Kashmir Haat' in Srinagar on October 2, he said 100 GI-tagged agriculture and horticulture products both within and outside Jammu and Kashmir are on display.

 

Attending the event, Manzoor Ahmad Bhat from Sagam village of Kokernag said over 500 farmers from nearly half a dozen villages are growing Musk Budji and will benefit immensely from the GI tagging of their produce.

 

'We are selling one kg Mushk Budji for Rs 260 and have received a lot of response in Srinagar. We have also received calls from Dubai for the product,' he said.

 

In Sagam village, Ghulam Mohammad, an elderly farmer, said they stopped growing the crop a long time ago and started afresh sometime back with the government's support.

 

Marcha Dhan Utpadak Pragatisheel Samuh, a registered organization of paddy cultivators in West Champaran district, which had applied for the geographical indication tag two years ago, received confirmation of having clinched it on Friday.

'We had kept our fingers crossed as the publication in the journal of Geographical Indications Registry in Chennai was in fact an inbuilt invite for objections,' West Champaran district magistrate Dinesh Kumar Rai told this newspaper on Saturday.

The confirmation came six months after granting of the GI tag by the Chennai-based registry, to the 'Marcha Rice', an indigenous variety of paddy famous for its aroma and taste, which is grown in certain pockets of the district.

'This is the sixth agricultural product from Bihar that has bagged the GI tag,' Rai said, mentioning Jardalu mango, Katarni rice of Bhagalpur, Shahi litchi of Muzaffarpur, Magahi paan of Magadh region, and Makhana of Mithila that have earlier won GI tags. 'This GI tags opens a window of opportunities for increased production and an expanding market even overseas for the Marcha Rice now,' he said.

Marcha paddy is grown in select pockets of six blocks- Mainatar, Gaunaha, Narkatiaganj, Ramnagar, Lauriya and Chanpatia of the district.

'It doesn't find favour in fields across villages in these blocks however,' Dhiru Kumar Tiwari, a scientist from the Madhopur Krishi Vigyan Kendra (Bettiah) under the Dr RAjendra Prasad Agricultural University of Pusa in Samastipur said. Tiwari has been associated full-time in the Marcha Rice GI project for the last two years.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) government has launched a Food Tech Valley to transform the Gulf nation into an international hub for agriculture and food technology, says its project head. 'We are uniting the food ecosystem all in one place with first-class infrastructure, business support and community programming. Our goal is to empower farmers, academics, business owners and entrepreneurs to address global food security challenges and pioneer sustainable food production that will reimagine the way the world produces and consumes food,' said Ahmed Al Shaibani, Project Lead, Food Tech Valley.

 

Launched in 2021 by Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), the Food Tech Valley aims to be a hub for future cleantech-based food and agricultural products. It will also be an incubator for researchers, entrepreneurs, start-ups and industry experts involved in developing solutions that have the potential to shape the future of the food industry.

 

Awareness

Over the past two years, the Valley has created awareness within the food and agriculture sector by taking part in exhibitions and building a strong ecosystem for its investors. It has helped them to forge partnerships with companies such as PepsiCo, FlyDubai, Tradeline and Emirates Development Bank. 

 

The Food Tech Valley is made up of different zones that encompass all areas within the value chain including production, logistics and processing zone, R&D & innovation centre, business park, academy and residential zone. This covers all aspects from food pre-production all the way to logistics and then food surplus and waste management, he said. 'We have also started site construction with the infrastructure being close to completion in order to accommodate early tenants to the project,' said Shaibani on its progress. 

 

The Food Valley Project has attracted the attention of many countries. It shows the importance of the sector and it has added to 'the success of the Dubai Expo'. The effect has been amplified and it enabled the project officials to begin dialogue and start collaborating (with other countries), he said.

 

Benefits

On the advantages of being part of the Valley, the project lead said it includes many benefits. 'Along with being part of a one-stop-shop which includes all areas of the supply chain, there will also be competitive leasing rates and up to 25-year lease agreements which gives companies more security for them to prosper,' said Shaibani.

 

UAE feels Dubai can be a gateway for Indian companies in the agri and food-processing sector to take its products and services global.

 

The untapped potential of the food sector in bilateral business has strengthened the UAE-India partnership in food trade and can strengthen food security in the entire West Asian and North African (WANA) region.

 

The development assumes significance on the heels of companies such as Waycool and Produze disrupting the market across the WANA region.

A Special Round of negotiations for the India - Peru Trade Agreement is scheduled to be held virtually on 10-11th October, 2023. The Indian track will be led by Chief Negotiator Mr. Vipul Bansal, Joint Secretary, Department of Commerce and Peruvian track will be led by Mr. Gerardo Antonio Meza Grillo, Director for Asia, Oceania and Africa, Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism. 

 

Discussions on various chapters including Initial Provisions and General Definitions, Rules of Origin, Trade in Goods, Customs Procedures and Trade Facilitation, Technical Barriers to Trade, Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures, General and Security Exceptions, Cooperation and Legal and Institutional Issues/Dispute Settlement are expected to be undertaken during this special round. Discussions on Services, Movement of Natural Persons, Trade Remedies and Investment chapter will be held later in the month based on mutual convenience of the negotiators.

 

Negotiations for the India-Peru Trade Agreement commenced in the year 2017 and the fifth round was concluded in August, 2019. On account of Covid, the negotiations came to a pause.

 

On the sidelines of CII India-LAC Conclave held in New Delhi on 3rd-4th August, 2023, a delegation led by H.E. Dr. Teresa Mera Gomez, Vice Minister of Foreign Trade of Peru met Shri Piyush Goyal, the Union Minister of Commerce & Industry wherein both sides expressed an interest in resuming the trade negotiations. Subsequently, Minister Goyal has directed to recommence the negotiations with Peru.

 

It is anticipated that the Trade Agreement will significantly boost trade, investment and enhance cooperation in various sectors. The sixth round is slated to be held in December, 2023 at Lima in Peru.

 

India and Peru have been experiencing a steady growth in their trade relationship. During FY 2022-23, the bilateral trade volume reached $3.12 billion. India exported goods worth $ 865.91 million to Peru, and imported goods valued at $ 2.25 billion from Peru. Key Indian exports to Peru include motor vehicles/cars, cotton yarn and pharmaceuticals, while Peru primarily exports gold, copper ores and concentrates.

Seeking Indian government support for imports, the UAE food industry said that huge demand is there in the Middle East countries for chicken, dairy, basmati rice, frozen marine goods and wheat products from New Delhi. The UAE industry has sought the support of the Indian government in smooth certification processes, more coordination with Agricultural & Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), and harmonisation of standards.

 

They also said that high quality packaging of Indian products would help boost New Delhi players to increase exports of food and food products in countries like Bahrain, Kuwait, the Sultanate of Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

 

Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, who was in the UAE, last week held detailed discussions with these importers and discussed ways to increase exports from India.

 

'There is huge scope for India to export frozen products in these countries,' Global Food Industries LLC Head of Sales UAE (Frozen and Beverages) Nissar Thalangara said.

 

A representative of Oman-based Khimji Ramdas Group said that there is a demand for Indian basmati rice and reduction of minimum export price (MEP) on this rice will help India boost exports.

 

The government is considering reducing MEP to USD 850 per tonne from USD 1,200 per tonne at present.

 

Another importer from GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) countries raised the issue of halal certification.

 

India has a well-established halal meat certification system.

 

Allanasons Pvt Ltd Executive Director Fauzan Alavi said the free trade agreement between India and the UAE is helping in promoting exports of meat products.

 

'We see more opportunities to increase our exports from India to UAE,' Alavi said.

 

Sharing similar views, Choithrams Head (Retail Procurement) Kirti Meghnani said the focus on packaging of products will help Indian exporters to increase trade with the UAE and other Gulf region nations.

 

Appcorp Holding Chairman Nitesh Ved suggested that setting up of an APEDA office here will help the food industry.

 

Another importer from GCC group said that there is a demand for products made by Indian cottage industries and for that India has to look at issues pertaining to standards, packaging and labelling.

 

The India-UAE trade agreement was implemented in May last year.

 

Bilateral trade between the countries increased to USD 84.9 billion in 2022-23 from USD 72.9 billion in 2021-22.

Renowned agricultural economists, scientists, policymakers, academicians, farmers and entrepreneurs are set to converge in Kochi for four days, starting October 10, to attend the 16th Agricultural Science Congress (ASC). This landmark event promises to serve as a dynamic platform for discussions on the transformation of the agri-food system for achieving sustainable development goals. 

 

Organised by the National Academy of Agricultural Sciences (NAAS), the Agricultural Science Congress is being held for the first time in Kerala, hosted by the ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI).

 

Union Fisheries Minister Parshottam Rupala will inaugurate the function on October 10.  Himanshu Pathak, Secretary to the Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE) and Director General of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) will deliver the presidential address.

 

With a comprehensive agenda, the 16th ASC will feature five plenary lectures by prominent figures in the field of agriculture and allied sectors. The Congress will also host three panel discussions on quality education for transforming agri-food systems, innovations in information dissemination and farming systems for enhancing nutrition and sustainability. In addition, four symposiums covering an array of topics, including coastal agriculture and livelihood, mainstreaming millets, and youth empowerment and gender equity have also been scheduled at the meet.

 

A key highlight of the 16th ASC will be the Farmer-Scientist Interface session, facilitating a direct exchange of knowledge and experiences between the farming community and leading researchers. 

 

An Agri Expo to be held on the side-line of the event will showcase innovative agricultural technologies of public and private sector research institutes, universities, agro-industries, extension agencies and NGOs.

To promote the consumption of millets or ‘Shree Anna’ among the Central Armed Police Personnel, the Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (DA&FW) hosted a 'Millets FPO Exhibition for Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) under the Ministry of Home Affairs' on 6 October 2023, at the BSF Camp in Chhawala, New Delhi. More than 30 Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) from around the country, showcased a variety of products including raw millet grains, ready-to-cook (RTC) items, and ready-to-eat (RTE) products etc, to approximately 1,000 attendees from various paramilitary forces.

 

The Exhibition was inaugurated by Shri Faiz Ahmad Kidwai, Additional Secretary, DA&FW, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. He was joined by Smt. Maninder Kaur, Additional Secretary, DA&FW and Smt. Shubha Thakur, JS (Crops), DA&FW.

 

In his inaugural speech, Shri Faiz Ahmed Kidwai, AS, DA&FW, highlighted how over 75,000 FPOs are working to support small farmers with resources and market connections. He pointed out that 34 millet FPOs from Rajasthan, UP, MP, and Haryana had gathered for the mega event with a dual aim to showcase the variety of millet products in the country and establish direct links with CAPF canteens and departmental stores for future procurement.

 

Smt. Shubha Thakur, JS (Crops), DA&FW, expressed gratitude to the paramilitary forces for their eagerness to embrace millets. She also commended the 34 FPOs for their range of millet products on display & looked forward to a fruitful collaboration between Millet FPOs & paramilitary forces

 

The exhibition served as an opportunity for the FPOs to interact directly with the armed forces and their families, introducing them to the wide array of home-grown, millet-based products. Additionally, the procurement officers and chefs/cooks also got a chance to witness the diversity of products, ease of millet procurement and linkages with FPOs for future procurement for their respective units during the exhibition.

 

Earlier this year, the Ministry of Home Affairs took a ground-breaking decision to introduce 30% millets in the meals of personnel of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF). In alignment with the celebration of the International Year of Millets, this decision aimed to promote millets as an energy-rich food choice for paramilitary personnel and to support their physically demanding routines, as millets are loaded with fiber, minerals, and essential nutrients. In August 2023, the Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (DA&FW) also organized a culinary training session for more than 250 chefs and cooks working with paramilitary forces, including the Assam Rifles, Border Security Force (BSF), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police, National Security Guard, Sashastra Seema Bal, and various government canteens. The successful training session acquainted participants with a variety of millet-based recipes, ranging from simple snacks to wholesome meals, which they were eager to incorporate in the daily menus of their canteens and mess facilities.

 

Over 34 Farmer Producer Organizations showcased and sold their unique range of products to Commandants, Second-in-Commands, Quartermasters, Chefs/Cooks, and their families during the exhibition. Notable highlights of the exhibition included ready-to-eat products like Foxtail Millet Khakhra, Bajra Cookies, Jowar Ladoos, Millet Rusk, Ragi Namkeen,Cakes etc. Guests were not only impressed by the remarkable versatility of these ready-to-eat millet-based sweets and savories, but they also expressed a keen interest in learning more about millet flours and ready-to-cook items, such as Ragi Idli Mix, Millet Upma and Millet noodles, to incorporate into their daily diets.

 

Live cooking counters were also set up for the officers and Jawans to sample various,delectable millet-based dishes such as Sorghum (Jowar) Pasta with Vegetables and Mayonnaise Cream, Finger Millet (Ragi) Noodles with sautéed vegetables, Millet Pongal with curd, Sorghum Chaach, Finger Millet (Ragi) Ladoo with Dry Fruit Mix, Millet Sewai, Pearl Millet (Bajra) Puff Snacksetc.

 

Adding to the celebration of millets at the exhibition were the selfie booths shaped like Sorghum, Ragi, and Pearl Millet. These selfie booths, designed to represent a 'happy millet family,' were a big hit with the families of the Jawans.