Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT), in collaboration with Rural Voice, organized a Roundtable Conference on Agri Exports on 25th June at IIFT Campus, New Delhi. The theme of the conference was โRealising the $100 Billion Agri Export Goalโ. The conference held at IIFT Campus was focused on accelerating Indiaโs agricultural exports.
Several Industry leaders, policymakers, researchers, and experts participated in the conference and shared their strategies and insights to help India achieve its ambitious $100 billion Agri-export target. Among the key participants at the conference were the designated team from the Indian Rice Exporters Federation (IREF).
While speaking at the conference, IREF emphasized the promotion of sustainable agriculture practices in India, transitioning from a focus on food security concerns to encompassing food security, nutrition, and farmersโ income security, in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The team also expressed their gratitude to Farmers and agricultural scientists for Indiaโs achievement in surpassing China to become the worldโs largest rice producer. Furthermore, they emphasized Indiaโs premier position globally in the export of both basmati and non-basmati rice, focusing on the key challenges hindering Indiaโs endeavour to achieve its ambitious $100 billion Agri-export target, which is currently at about $51 billion, placing India in the global 8th position in terms of agri-export.
However, IREF team members expressed their concern and cautioned that many of importing countries like United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia and European Union (EU) etc. are adopting Non-Tariff Barriers such as stringent SPS measures like Maximum Residue Limits (MRL) of some specific pesticides in such a manner that is creating disruption to the rice exporters from India, further stating that it needs to be taken care through Bilateral Agreements.
While addressing the gathering at the conference, the speaker informed that the Indian Rice Exporterโs Federation (IREF) is organizing the world’s largest rice event, โBharat International Rice Conference 2025 (BIRC 2025)โ, on 30 & 31st October 2025. BIRC 2025 is focused on bringing together key policymakers, stakeholders, rice industry leaders, rice importers, and exporters from over 172 countries for expanding market access as well as bringing additional new rice import markets for our Indian exporters. Dr. Sudhanshu, Secretary, The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India was also among the key speakers in the event.