Union Minister of Commerce & Industry Piyush Goyal on Tuesday called for stronger collaboration among stakeholders in the food, agriculture, and hospitality sectors to position India as a global leader in agricultural and processed food exports.

Addressing the inauguration of the 40th edition of AAHAR – The International Food & Hospitality Fair in New Delhi, Shri Goyal highlighted that India’s food and agricultural exports now reach nearly ₹5 lakh crore annually, making the country the seventh largest exporter globally. He noted that exports of processed foods have increased fourfold, fruit and pulses exports have tripled, cereal exports have doubled, and rice exports alone have grown by 62 percent since 2014.

Shri Goyal emphasized that India’s Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) have opened preferential access to 38 developed and prosperous countries, covering nearly two-thirds of global trade, while protecting sensitive domestic sectors like dairy, GM products, rice, wheat, maize, pulses, and sugar to safeguard farmers, fishermen, and MSMEs.

He encouraged farmers and entrepreneurs to leverage the ₹1 lakh crore Agriculture Infrastructure Fund to invest in food processing and value addition, enabling access to high-value global markets.

Welcoming Italy as the partner country for this edition of AAHAR, Shri Goyal highlighted opportunities for international collaborations to promote Indian cuisine, expand trade linkages, and adopt global best practices in the food and hospitality sector.

The Minister assured that the government, through the Export Promotion Mission, DGFT, and the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, would provide exporters with comprehensive support to strengthen the “Made in India” brand globally, boost farmers’ incomes, and create new avenues for MSMEs and entrepreneurs.

He concluded by stressing that combined efforts from farmers, businesses, and industry stakeholders can help India achieve the vision of becoming the world’s leading exporter of agricultural and processed foods, fulfilling the aspiration of making India the “food basket of the world.”