NewzVille Desk
Union Minister of Commerce & Industry Piyush Goyal addressed at the inauguration of the 40th edition of AAHAR – The International Food & Hospitality Fair in New Delhi today. He called upon stakeholders from the food, agriculture and hospitality sectors to work collectively towards making India the world’s largest exporter of agricultural and processed foods, highlighting the vast opportunities created by India’s expanding trade agreements and the growing global demand for Indian products.
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 in the world.
He noted that over the past eleven years, from 2014 to 2025, India’s agri and food exports have witnessed significant growth. Exports of processed foods have increased fourfold, fruit and pulses exports have tripled, processed vegetable exports have quadrupled, cocoa exports have tripled, and cereal exports have doubled. Rice exports alone have grown by 62 percent during this period.
Goyal said these achievements should inspire India to aspire for the top position globally in agricultural and processed food exports. He emphasized that the goal is achievable and aligns with the vision of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi that India should become the “food basket of the world.”
The Minister encouraged exhibitors and participants to explore the entire exhibition beyond their own stalls, noting that such interactions can lead to new ideas, collaborations, packaging innovations and opportunities in manufacturing and business expansion.
