January 15, 2021
APEDA & Indian Embassy, Azerbaijan organised a virtual BSM to strengthen cooperation over exports of rice.
India and the CIS countries have explored new opportunities regarding trade in the agriculture and processed food sector.
India’s bilateral trade with Azerbaijan has increased from around US$ 110 mn in FY16 to US$ 397 mn in FY20.
Exports from India include mobiles, rice, drugs, heating boilers, liquid pumps, agricultural tractors, cars etc.
Aiming to boost India’s export of agricultural and processed foods, APEDA along with the Indian Embassy in Azerbaijan organised a virtual Buyer Seller Meet (BSM) in Azerbaijan. This meet brought together stakeholders from the respective governments to strengthen strategic cooperation between India and Azerbaijan over the exports of basmati rice. Owing to the ongoing pandemic, social distancing has become a norm. APEDA took the first step to organise this virtual meet to provide and aid the exporters and importers of both countries. During this specific meet, presentations were made by various rice exporters for the National Confederation of Entrepreneurs (Employers’) Organisations of the Republic of Azerbaijan who stated their requirement for Basmati Rice imports from India.
This virtual meet with Azerbaijan is the 16th of its kind, like similar ones organised by APEDA with other countries, including United Arab Emirates (UAE), Kuwait, Indonesia, Switzerland, Belgium, Iran, South Africa, Germany, The United States, Canada and Australia, Thailand, and Nepal. The meet was attended by His Excellency Mr B. Vanlalvawna, Ambassador of India to Azerbaijan, Dr. M. Angamuthu, Chairman APEDA, Mr. S.S.Nayyar, General Manager, APEDA, Dr. Sudhanshu, Secretary, APEDA, Dr. D.D.K.Sharma, Director(BEDF), APEDA, Mr. FuadHumbatov, Deputy Secretary General, The National Confederation of Entrepreneurs (Employers’) Organisations of the Republic of Azerbaijan (ASK), and Senior Officials of APEDA and Embassy of India, Azerbaijan, Indian Basmati Rice Exporters and rice importers of Azerbaijan.
During the recent COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a paradigm shift in trade with the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and in creating new opportunities in the agriculture and processed food sector. Azerbaijan being one of the CIS countries falls under the radar too. Over the years, India’s bilateral trade with Azerbaijan has increased from around US$ 110 mn in FY16 to US$ 397 mn in FY20. India and Azerbaijan have friendly relations and growing bilateral cooperation based on civilisational linkages, cultural affinities, and shared values of understanding and respect for other cultures. Items of export from India include mobile phones, rice, drugs/human vaccine, kali & natrium bromide, excavators, heating boilers, liquid pumps, agricultural tractors, cars, meat, black tea etc.