NEW DELHI, 17 March 2026: Piyush Goyal, Union Minister of Commerce & Industry, called for stronger collaboration among stakeholders to position India as a global leader in agricultural and processed food exports.
Speaking at the inauguration of the 40th edition of AAHAR in New Delhi, the minister highlighted that India’s food and agricultural exports have reached nearly INR 5 lakh crore (over $55 billion) annually, making the country the seventh largest exporter globally.
Strong Growth Across Agri Export Segments
Goyal noted that India’s agri and food exports have seen significant expansion between 2014 and 2025:
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Processed food exports have grown fourfold
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Fruits and pulses exports have tripled
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Processed vegetable exports have quadrupled
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Cereal exports have doubled
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Rice exports have increased by 62%
He said this growth reflects India’s rising competitiveness and supports the vision of making the country the “food basket of the world.”
FTAs Expanding Global Market Access
The minister highlighted that India has concluded nine Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) in the past three and a half years, providing preferential access to 38 developed countries.
These agreements now cover nearly two-thirds of global trade, strengthening India’s integration into global value chains and enhancing export opportunities.
At the same time, Goyal emphasized that India has carefully safeguarded domestic interests, especially:
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Farmers and fishermen
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MSMEs
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Sensitive sectors like dairy and GM products, which remain protected
Key agricultural commodities such as rice, wheat, maize, soy meal, and pulses have also been shielded from adverse import competition.
Focus on Infrastructure and Value Addition
Goyal encouraged stakeholders to leverage the INR 1 lakh crore Agriculture Infrastructure Fund to boost food processing and value addition, enabling farmers to access higher-value global markets.
He noted that increasing participation of small enterprises in food processing is creating new opportunities for growth, employment, and rural income generation.
Expanding Trade Partnerships
Highlighting international collaboration, Goyal welcomed Italy as the partner country for AAHAR 2026 and stressed the importance of learning from global best practices.
He also pointed to growing trade opportunities through agreements and partnerships with:
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European Free Trade Association countries
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Australia, Japan, and South Korea
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Association of Southeast Asian Nations nations
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United Arab Emirates, Oman, and Mauritius
He added that negotiations with Canada are progressing, while talks with the Gulf Cooperation Council have recently been launched.
Government Support for Exporters
Goyal assured exporters of continued support under the Export Promotion Mission, including assistance from the Ministry of Commerce & Industry and the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT).
Outlook
The minister expressed confidence that combined efforts by farmers, entrepreneurs, and MSMEs will help:
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Expand India’s global trade footprint
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Strengthen the “Made in India” brand
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Increase farmer incomes
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Unlock new business opportunities
He urged industry stakeholders to collaborate more actively and capitalize on India’s growing global demand to make the country a top exporter of agricultural and processed foods.
