Aahar – India as global leader in agricultural and processed food exports

Union minister of commerce & industry Piyush Goyal has called upon stakeholders from the food, agriculture and hospitality sectors to work collectively toward making India the world’s largest exporter of agricultural and processed foods, highlighting the vast opportunities created by India’s expanding trade agreements and the growing global demand for Indian products.

Addressing the gathering at the inauguration of the 40th edition of Aahar – The International Food & Hospitality Fair in New Delhi on 10 March, Goyal said India’s exports of food and agricultural products—including farm produce and fisheries—have reached nearly ₹5 lakh crore (over US$ 55 billion) annually, making the country the seventh largest exporter of agricultural produce in the world.

He noted that over the past 11 years, from 2014 to 2025, India’s agri and food exports have witnessed significant growth. Exports of processed foods have increased fourfold, fruit and pulses exports have tripled, processed vegetable exports have quadrupled, cocoa exports have tripled, and cereal exports have doubled. Rice exports alone have grown by 62 percent during this period.

Goyal said these achievements should inspire India to aspire for the top position globally in agricultural and processed food exports. He emphasized that the goal is achievable and aligns with the vision of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi that India should become the “food basket of the world.”

The minister highlighted that the nine Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) concluded by India over the past three and a half years have opened access to 38 developed and prosperous countries, providing vast market opportunities for Indian exporters. He added that India today has preferential market access covering nearly two-thirds of global trade, which strengthens India’s position as an attractive investment destination and enables Indian businesses to integrate into global value chains.

Goyal emphasized that while negotiating FTAs, the Government has carefully safeguarded the interests of domestic stakeholders, particularly farmers, fishermen and MSMEs. He said India has protected sensitive sectors such as dairy, where no concessions have been given to foreign producers. Similarly, genetically modified (GM) products have not been granted duty concessions or market access.

He clarified that key agricultural commodities such as rice, wheat, maize, soy meal and several varieties of pulses have been protected in trade negotiations. In the sugar sector, concessions have generally not been extended to prevent imports that could adversely affect India’s sugarcane farmers and domestic producers.

The minister said these measures ensure that India’s domestic strengths remain protected while new global opportunities are created for Indian products. He urged stakeholders connected with industry and the business community to spread awareness at the grassroots level about how India’s FTAs safeguard national interests while expanding international trade opportunities.

Goyal encouraged farmers and entrepreneurs to take advantage of the ₹1 lakh crore Agriculture Infrastructure Fund and focus on food processing and value addition, which can enable farmers to access higher-value global markets. He noted that an increasing number of small enterprises are entering the food processing sector, creating new avenues for growth and employment.

Highlighting the importance of international partnerships, Goyal welcomed Italy as the partner country for the 40th edition of Aahar and said India should learn from best practices in Italy’s food and hospitality sector while also building collaborations with Italian companies. Such partnerships, he said, can help promote Indian cuisine, expand the global taste for Indian products and strengthen trade linkages.

The minister pointed out that Europe represents a major market for agricultural and processed food imports, especially with new trade arrangements that provide near-zero or very low duties on many Indian products. 

He referred to opportunities arising from India’s agreements and partnerships with EFTA countries—Switzerland, Norway, Liechtenstein and Iceland—New Zealand, Australia, Japan, Korea, ASEAN nations, Oman, the UAE and Mauritius. He added that negotiations with Canada are progressing and discussions with the six-nation GCC group of countries in the Middle East have recently been launched.

Goyal noted that the EFTA agreement marks two years since its finalisation, further strengthening India’s access to global markets.

The minister congratulated the organizers and participants on the 40th edition of Aahar, describing it as a landmark event for the food and hospitality sector. He said that for the first time Aahar has a partner country, Italy, and also announced that the exhibition will be opened to the general public on the evening of Friday the 13th and throughout Saturday, allowing visitors, especially young people, to experience the strengths of the food, beverage and hospitality sectors from India and across the world.

Goyal encouraged exhibitors and participants to explore the entire exhibition beyond their own stalls, noting that such interactions can lead to new ideas, collaborations, packaging innovations and opportunities in manufacturing and business expansion.

He assured exporters that under the Export Promotion Mission the Government will provide comprehensive support and handholding, including through the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) and other relevant divisions that promote Indian exports globally.

Concluding his address, Goyal expressed confidence that the combined efforts of farmers, fishermen, entrepreneurs and MSMEs will enable India to expand global trade, strengthen the “Made in India” brand worldwide, and significantly enhance farmers’ incomes while creating new opportunities for businesses.