First Ever Virtual Trade Fair

In News

Recently, the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) has organised the first ever Virtual Trade Fair to boost export potential of India’s agricultural and processed food products.

Rationale Behind the Step

• Because of COVID19 related restrictions on physical travel and trade, APEDA has initiated the concept of VTF for sustaining India’s agricultural and processed food products exports and also exploring new markets for expanding export footprints  

About

• The fair with a theme ‘India Rice and Agro Commodity’, will focus on showcasing the exports potential of various agricultural commodities.
•  Importers as well as exporters will be key participants of the VTF.
• The potential buyers or importers and visitors will get to explore a wide range of food products presented by the exporters through this virtual fair.
  • 266 Indian and international buyers from various countries have registered for the virtual fair.
• The fair provides the facility workshops, product launches, live streams and webinars. The virtual meet will have facilities for private meeting rooms, personalized meeting provisions.

Relevance

• In the VTF, the trade facilitation would take place using interactive technology.
• It also provides cost effective and productive platforms where the buyers and sellers could negotiate or discuss trade face to face giving a feel of real time exhibitions or fairs.

Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority

• It was established in 1985 under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
• It is mandated with the responsibility of export promotion and development of the following scheduled products.
  • Meat and Meat Products.
  • Poultry and Poultry Products.
  • Dairy Products.
  • Confectionery, Biscuits and Bakery Products.
  • Honey, Jaggery and Sugar Products.
  • Cocoa and its products, chocolates of all kinds.
  • Alcoholic and Non-Alcoholic Beverages.
  • Cereal and Cereal Products.
  • Groundnuts, Peanuts and Walnuts.
  • Pickles, Papads and Chutneys.
  • Guar Gum.
  • Floriculture and Floriculture Products
  • Herbal and Medicinal Plants
• It has been a pioneer in taking IT initiatives in the past in terms of making its process system online, Implementation of traceability and adoption of advanced technology.

Source :PIB