10 March 2026, New Delhi: Union Minister of Commerce & Industry Piyush Goyal has called for stronger collaboration among stakeholders in the food, agriculture, and hospitality sectors to position India as a leading global exporter of agricultural and processed food products.
Speaking at the inauguration of the 40th edition of AAHAR – The International Food & Hospitality Fair (AAHAR 2026) in New Delhi, the Minister highlighted the significant progress India has made in agri-food exports and emphasized the opportunities created by expanding global trade partnerships.
Goyal noted that India’s exports of food and agricultural products including farm produce and fisheries—now reach nearly ₹5 lakh crore (over USD 55 billion) annually, making the country the seventh-largest exporter of agricultural products globally.
Reviewing export trends from 2014 to 2025, he said India’s agri-food sector has seen strong growth across several categories. Exports of processed foods have increased fourfold, while fruit and pulses exports have tripled. Processed vegetable exports have quadrupled, cocoa exports have tripled, and cereal exports have doubled during the period. Rice exports alone have grown by 62 percent.
According to the Minister, these achievements demonstrate India’s capacity to aim for a much larger role in global food trade. He said the country should aspire to become the world’s largest exporter of agricultural and processed foods, in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of making India the “food basket of the world.”
Goyal also highlighted the role of trade agreements in expanding market access for Indian products. Over the past three and a half years, India has concluded nine Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), providing exporters with access to 38 developed economies. These agreements, he said, enable Indian businesses to participate more actively in global value chains while strengthening India’s position as a preferred investment destination.
At the same time, he emphasized that the government has taken care to protect the interests of domestic stakeholders during trade negotiations. The Minister said that sectors such as dairy have been fully safeguarded, with no concessions provided to foreign producers. Similarly, genetically modified (GM) products have not been granted duty concessions or market access under these agreements.
Key agricultural commodities including rice, wheat, maize, soy meal, and several varieties of pulses have also been protected in trade negotiations. In the sugar sector, concessions have largely not been extended to prevent imports that could negatively affect domestic producers and sugarcane farmers.
Goyal said such safeguards ensure that India’s domestic agriculture remains protected while exporters benefit from new global opportunities. He urged industry stakeholders to raise awareness at the grassroots level about how India’s trade agreements both protect national interests and expand export prospects.
The Minister also encouraged farmers and entrepreneurs to utilize the ₹1 lakh crore Agriculture Infrastructure Fund to strengthen food processing and value addition. According to him, investments in these areas can help farmers access higher-value global markets while generating employment and growth in rural areas.
Highlighting the importance of international cooperation, Goyal welcomed Italy as the partner country for AAHAR 2026. He said India can benefit from Italy’s expertise in the food and hospitality sectors while also building partnerships that promote Indian cuisine and food products globally.
He pointed out that Europe represents a major market for agricultural and processed food imports, especially with trade arrangements that offer near-zero or very low duties on many Indian products. The Minister also referred to emerging opportunities through India’s partnerships with EFTA countries (Switzerland, Norway, Liechtenstein and Iceland) as well as trade agreements with New Zealand, Australia, Japan, Korea, ASEAN nations, Oman, the UAE and Mauritius. He added that negotiations with Canada are progressing, while discussions with the GCC countries in the Middle East have recently been initiated.
The Minister noted that the agreement with the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) recently marked two years since its finalisation, further strengthening India’s global trade engagement.
Describing AAHAR 2026 as a landmark event for the food and hospitality sector, Goyal congratulated the organisers and participants of the exhibition. He said that for the first time the event has a partner country—Italy.
He also announced that the exhibition will be opened to the general public on Friday evening (13 March) and throughout Saturday, giving visitors, particularly young people, an opportunity to explore innovations and opportunities in the global food and hospitality industries.
Encouraging exhibitors to engage beyond their own stalls, Goyal said such interactions can generate new ideas, partnerships, packaging innovations and business opportunities.
The Minister assured exporters that under the Export Promotion Mission, the government will provide extensive support through institutions such as the Ministry of Commerce & Industry and the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) to help expand India’s presence in global markets.
Concluding his address, Goyal expressed confidence that the combined efforts of farmers, fishermen, entrepreneurs and MSMEs will strengthen India’s “Made in India” brand globally, expand trade opportunities and contribute to higher farmer incomes.
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