A delegation from the Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO), comprised of 26 Indian food companies, is participating in the 4th Food Africa 2018 Exhibition, which is held at the Cairo International Convention Centre, from 8-10 December.

The Indian Pavilion, under the aegis of FIEO, at Food Africa 2018 is supported by the Indian government, according to sources from the Indian embassy in Egypt. The sources added that the Indian companies will use the exhibition as a platform, to meet food products’ importers, buyers, and businesspersons.

The Indian food companies aim to explore the Egyptian food market and industry and to identify areas of mutual cooperation, explainedthe sources, noting, “Egypt has traditionally been one of India’s most important trade partners in Africa. India’s exports to Egypt include cereals, bovine meat, and dairy products.”

“There is an immense potential for bilateral trade between India and Egypt in the agricultural, processed food sector, and allied industries. In addition to the existing products exported from India to Egypt, India can offer a wide selection of food products, including specialty and processed food items, as per Egyptian preferences, at competitive prices,” said India’s ambassador to Egypt, Rahul Kulshreshtha.

India has emerged as a major exporter of agricultural and processed food, with exports increasing from about $5bn in 2003, to over $39bn in 2013. From April to October 2018, India’s agricultural and processed food products exports’ totalled $21.61bn.

Indian agricultural and processed foods are exported to more than 100 countries and regions, among them the Middle East, Southeast Asia, the SAARC countries, the EU, and the US.