Russia diversifying agricultural exports to India - Agroexport
NEW DELHI. Sept 25 (Interfax) - Russia is gradually diversifying its agricultural exports to India to include more high value-added goods, CEO of the Agroexport federal center Ilya Ilyushin told journalists in New Delhi, which Russian exporters are visiting on a business trip as part of the World Food India 2025 exhibition.
"We are gradually diversifying our exports to India. This indicates that Russian exporters are finding their niche on the Indian market, expanding the range of items which they sell there," he said.
On top of traditional export products such as oil and fat products and legumes, he said that other items with significant potential included chocolate and confectionery products, baby food, pasta, meat and dairy products, mineral water and fruit juices, alcohol, pet food and more.
He also said that a large proportion of the produce with significant export potential faced limits in the form of high customs duties. "We hope that these restrictions will be eased following talks between India and the Eurasian Economic Union on a free trade area agreement," Ilyushin said.
The organized business trip for Russian exporters will take place between September 25 and 28, with over 30 companies participating.
Indian businesses also see significant potential in importing from Russia. During a roundtable session dedicated to the hospitality, retail and e-commerce sectors, Indian business representatives told the Russian exporters participating in the business trip that they were interested in purchasing a wide range of produce from Russia, from meat to beverages and seasonings.
Indian Chamber of International Business (ICIB) president Manpreet Singh said that there was potential for selling confectionery, functional food and alcoholic drinks, including vodka, in India, and that Russian exporters should make active use of marketing and positioning tools.
A representative of the Primo Foods company said that it was willing to import meat products from Russia, Gyma Food Industries expressed interest in meat and oil and fat products, Swan Sweets in confectionery, beverages and halal produce and Bahety Overseas Private Limited in alcoholic beverages.
Head of business development and project management at Halal India Sundaram Srinivasan said that halal certificates, though not mandatory for exports to India, would give products an advantage on the market.
Mamed Ahmedov, director of the Russian Export Center delegation in India, said that exporters could offer practically any product to the Indian market, but with varying methods. "In many cases, this requires marketing and promotion, participation in exhibitions and a search for potential partners, while other cases call for the use of marketplaces or B2B platforms, and others require that part of the produce is made in India in order to make it relevant for the local market in accordance with the Made in India program," he said.
