APEDA organizes international buyer-seller meet in Dibrugarh

A CORRESPONDENT

DIBRUGARH: In a move aimed at realizing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of 'Vocal for Local' with a focus on 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat', the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) on Thursday organized a two-day International Buyer Seller Meet (IBSM) at Dibrugarh.

The objective of the IBSM is to promote the exports of the potential agricultural and processed food products from Assam and other north-eastern states and provide market linkage to the producers.

The IBSM at Dibrugarh was attended by more than 180 numbers of participants and dignitaries from the State Government, Central Government representatives, FPO, FPC, buyers and other relevant stakeholders. At the IBSM, exhibitors from across the State displayed a wide range of agricultural and horticultural products. The products on display included fresh fruits, vegetables, processed food products, black rice, red rice, maize, honey, tea spices, including organic products.

International buyers from countries such as Bangladesh and Nepal interacted with exporters and expressed their willingness to source agri-horti commodities from Assam. FPOs and FPCs also actively had business discussions with the exporters participated.

In his welcome speech, Prabhat Kumar Bezbarua, co-chairman-NER of Indian Chamber of Commerce said that this programme would have a meaningful outcome with the international and national buyers directly interacting with the Northeast exporters and grassroots level FPCs and FPOs.

He said, "To export to the international market, our farmers need to produce international quality agriculture products with a market-driven strategy." He also appreciated the strong leadership of APEDA chairman Dr. M. Angamuthu, for his visionary leadership and special focus on the Northeast in promoting agri exports.

Sunita Rai, Assistant General Manager, Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) enlightened on the scope of agriculture exports from the north-eastern States. She also informed that APEDA had been providing support to the FPOs, FPCs, exporters in areas of infrastructure development, capacity building, skill development and market linkage to bring the north-eastern states in the export map. She also highlighted the fact that the Northeast was strategically located, having an international border with Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Myanmar and China and had scope for promoting unique products of NER.

Rai also gave an example of Assam Lemon which is a geographically indicated product and has huge demand in the international market along with other products such as pineapple, king chilly, ginger, high cumin, turmeric etc.

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