India Can Lead Global Agri Exports: Piyush Goyal

• Piyush Goyal urges stakeholders to position India as top agri exporter
• India’s food and agriculture exports reach nearly ₹5 lakh crore annually
• Processed food exports rise fourfold since 2014
• FTAs protect farmers, fishermen and MSMEs while expanding global markets

GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 10th March: Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal on Tuesday called for stronger collaboration between the agriculture, food processing and hospitality sectors to position India as a global leader in agricultural and processed food exports.

Addressing the 40th edition of AAHAR – The International Food & Hospitality Fair in New Delhi, the minister highlighted the rapid growth of India’s agri and food exports and urged stakeholders to work collectively to achieve the goal of making India the world’s largest exporter of agricultural and processed foods.

Goyal said that India’s exports of food and agricultural products—including farm produce and fisheries—have reached nearly ₹5 lakh crore (over USD 55 billion) annually, making the country the seventh largest exporter of agricultural produce globally.

Highlighting the growth achieved over the past decade, the minister said that from 2014 to 2025, India’s agricultural and food exports have expanded substantially.

According to him, processed food exports have increased fourfold, while fruit and pulses exports have tripled. Exports of processed vegetables have grown four times, cocoa exports have tripled, and cereal exports have doubled during this period.

He also noted that rice exports alone have grown by 62 percent since 2014, reflecting the global demand for Indian agricultural products.

Goyal said these achievements demonstrate that India has the potential to become the “food basket of the world,” a vision articulated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The minister also highlighted the role of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) in expanding market access for Indian exporters.

He said that nine FTAs concluded in the past three and a half years have opened access to 38 developed and high-income countries, offering significant opportunities for Indian businesses.

According to the minister, India now has preferential market access covering nearly two-thirds of global trade, strengthening its position as a key participant in global value chains.

At the same time, Goyal emphasised that the government has taken steps to protect the interests of farmers, fishermen and MSMEs while negotiating trade agreements.

He said that sensitive sectors such as dairy have been fully protected and no concessions have been given to foreign producers. Similarly, genetically modified (GM) products have not been granted duty concessions or market access.

Key agricultural commodities including rice, wheat, maize, soy meal and several varieties of pulses have also been safeguarded during trade negotiations.

In the sugar sector, he said concessions have generally not been extended in order to protect domestic sugarcane farmers and producers from import pressures.

Goyal urged stakeholders in the food and agriculture sectors to spread awareness about how India’s trade agreements protect domestic interests while creating global opportunities.

The minister also encouraged farmers and entrepreneurs to utilise the ₹1 lakh crore Agriculture Infrastructure Fund to invest in food processing and value addition, which can help farmers access higher-value global markets.

He noted that increasing participation by small enterprises in the food processing sector is creating new avenues for growth, employment and export expansion.

Highlighting international collaboration, Goyal welcomed Italy as the partner country for the 40th edition of AAHAR, saying that India can learn from Italy’s expertise in the food and hospitality sector while strengthening bilateral trade partnerships.

He also pointed to the growing opportunities in European markets, where many Indian products can enter with very low or near-zero duties under new trade arrangements.

The minister referred to India’s trade partnerships with countries and groups including EFTA nations (Switzerland, Norway, Liechtenstein and Iceland), New Zealand, Australia, Japan, Korea, ASEAN nations, Oman, the UAE and Mauritius.

He added that negotiations with Canada are progressing and discussions with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries have recently been initiated.

Goyal said the government remains committed to supporting exporters through initiatives such as the Export Promotion Mission, with assistance from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT).

He expressed confidence that the combined efforts of farmers, fishermen, entrepreneurs and MSMEs will help expand global trade, strengthen the “Made in India” brand and significantly increase farmers’ incomes while creating new business opportunities.