The Indian Business and Professionals Council (IBPC Qatar) recently organised a virtual India-Qatar B2B meeting between agriculture exporters and importers on millets and value-added millet products.
Chargés d’affaires Angeline Premalatha was the chief guest during the meeting, which was held in collaboration with the Agriculture and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA India), under the initiative of the Embassy of India in Qatar.
Addressing the meeting, Premalatha said India is the largest producer of millets in the world with an annual production of around 10mn tonnes, adding that 2023 has been declared International Year of Millets by the UN General Assembly (UNGA).
She said, “India and Qatar have strong bilateral relations and the experts of both sides take this meeting based on millets and value-added millet productions to newer heights on the occasion of the International Year of Millets.
It is humbling to witness the Indian business community taking a step forward toward the promotion and sale of millet products, which have since seen a dramatic increase due to the promotional efforts by Indian businesses.”
Premalatha urged all delegates to take advantage of the meeting and explore opportunities for collaboration, cooperation, and establishing new partnerships. She also assured the embassy’s full support for Indian and Qatari business houses looking to expand bilateral economic ties.
APEDA general manager U K Vats said APEDA is working with 205 countries, exporting more than 1,000 product ranges and boasts good receptivity to every market, including the Americas, Asia, and Europe.
IBPC president Jaffer Us Sadiq IBPC Qatar is dedicated to increasing awareness and widespread use of millets in Qatar through school awareness programmes. The sale of millets has not only improved the health of the community but also provided a boost to the local economy, he added.
APEDA general manager Dr Saswati Bose said APEDA is working to ensure Indian food product manufacturers, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises, reach global markets and are able to offer their products and solutions to global users.

Ends