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RECENT FAIR PARTICIPATIONS |
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| Spices
Board in SIAL China |
The Spices Board showcased Indian spices and spice products
at the SIAL China held in Shanghai during 14th to 16th May,
2008. The participation enable interaction with over 60 serious
importers from various parts of China. They have shown keen
interest to source Indian spices and spice products. The demand
for Indian spices and food is increasing. Many hotels specialized
in Indian food have come up and they have opened spice shops
also.
This exhibition was held soon after the dreadful earthquake
in China. Its backlash was evident throughout the participation.
The Spices Board was represented by Director(Finance) Dr.Charles
J Kithu and Director in the Ministry of Commerce, Mr.Raj Singh.
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Interactions
in progress at the Spices Board stand in SIAL China. |
Mr.Raj
Singh, Director, Ministry of Commerce (left) with Dr.Charles
J Kithu, Director(Finance), Spices Board. |
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| Indian
Spices evoke interest in Iran |
Serious
trade enquiries for various spices and value added products
were recorded during the participation of the Board in Iran
Agro Food held in Tehran during 25 - 28 May, 2008. One of
the Indian exporters who participated through the Board's
stand was able to meet good number of buyers besides finalising
distributing his products. This company is expected to do
good business in Iran this year as a result of the Board's
participation in Iran Food.
There were buyers from neighbouring Armania, Iraq and Azerbaijan.
Iranian market offer good scope for Indian spices and spice
products. It is a limited availability that is restricting
consumption. The Indian brands have a general acceptance in
Iran and hence the time is ripe to capitalise the opportunity.
The Board was represented by Sri G.K.Vidyashankar, Assistant
Director(Marketing). |
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Dr.G.K.Vidyashankar,
Assistant Director Marketing (sitting right) with buyers
at the Board's stand. |
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| Export
problems of China favour Indian spices in Japan |
Problems
of agri chemical residues and the difficulties in exporting
spices like fresh ginger, chillies, garlic etc. which are
currently experienced by China are throwing up opportunities
for expanding Indian exports of these products to Japan. The
Spices Board paraded the Indian strength in spices at the
Foodex 2008 in Tokyo, Japan during 11th to 14th March 2008.
The stand at the ITPO’s Indian pavilion had put on display
products from over 20 Indian exporters. The products included
whole spices, oils & oleoresins, masalas, mixes, curry
powders and herbs.
Diversified activities at the stand attracted large number
of visitors. Besides the wide range of product display, brochures
of different sorts were distributed. In association with M/s.
Maple Foods of Japan, cooking demonstration was organized
in the stand. Visitors were given the opportunity to taste
chicken, mutton, fish and vegetable curries along with Keral
a
Parottas.
Indian food is generally sought after in Japan and most of
the major hotel chains are showing keen interest for promoting
and introducing South Indian food. The preference is mainly
due to spices, which goes as a major ingredient. Spices Board
is planning to organize more food promotions in Japan during
the current year. Chairman, Spices Board, Mr.V J Kurian, IAS
held discussions with top officials at the pavilion. Director
[Marketing] of the Board, Mr.S.Kannan coordinated the participation. |
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(From
left ) Chef Raja, Mr.S.Kannan, Director[Marketing] of Spices
Board, Mr.Tet Suji, Chairman of Maple Foods, Japan, Mr.V
J Kurian, IAS, Chairman, Spices Board and Ms.Daneila, Interpreter
at the Board’s stand. |
Mr.H
K Singh, Indian Ambassador, Embassy of India, Japan with
Mr.V J Kurian, Chairman, Spices Board. |
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| Products
on display. |
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| Indian
Spices showcased in Morocco. |
For
the first time, the Board undertook a promotional programme
in the North African market of Morocco. Indian capabilities
in spices were showcased at the Marocotel 2008 in Casablanca,
Morocco during 12th to 15th March 2008. This exhibition was
mainly for hotel equipment and food products. Spices and spice
products on display drew many visitors to the stand. Products
of different Indian companies were on display. The presence
of the Spices Board at this show gave an opportunity for the
Moroccan population to know the Indian range of products.
Many business visitors turned up and enquiries were mainly
for ginger, pepper and turmeric. There is every scope to increase
the Indian spices exports to the Moroccan region from the
current level of around Rs.5 crores. |
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Mr.G.Gopalakrishnan,
Asst. Director, Spices Board
(2nd from right) seen engaged in a dialogue with a visitor |
Interpreter
assisting Mr.Gopalakrishnan, Asst. Director, Spices Board
in conversing with a business visitor |
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| Gains
from Gulfood Dubai |
Dealers
of food stuff mainly spices in the UAE are showing interest
in importing directly from Indian spices companies in contrast
to the prevailing pattern of sourcing through traders. The
Spices Board’s participation in the 13th Gulfood Dubai
during 24 to 27 February 2008 at the Dubai International Convention
and Exhibition Centre, was a pointer to this. This trend may
be due to the continued presence of Spices Board in the Gulfood
exhibition every year with a fairly large contingent of Indian
spices exporters.
The current edition of Gulfood had record participation of
2500 exhibitors from 72 countries. The latest Indian spice
contingent at the Gulfood consisted a group of ten exporting
companies. Their active involvement at the Board’ stand
could result in establishing strong rapport and fruitful interactions
with business visitors.
The Gulf region, more particularly the affluent Dubai and
the other rich nearby Emirate Kingdoms, is witnessing heavy
demand for ready to eat branded food items which are leading
to large-scale food manufacturing. This in turn is calling
for huge demand for processed spices mainly in powder form
in bulk. Branded and ready to cook products are mostly consumed
by the ethnic Indian population. There appeared to be a preference
for Indian exporters with warehousing facilities in UAE who
could meet the demand for immediate supplies. Dubai continued
to remain as the main gateway for the Middle East market supplies.
The Board had put on showcase the major and important spices
in its whole form, spice powders and blends, spice extracts
etc. The different products of Indian companies were also
put on display. UAE favours sizeable quantities of Indian
spices and spices products mainly chillies, turmeric, nutmeg,
mace, cardamom, curry powder, spice blends and seed spices.
The Gulf market also accommodates sizeable number of Indian
branded spice products like curry powders, blends, mixes,
pickles etc. The officials of the Board, Deputy Directors,
Shri.P.Jagadeesan and Smt.K.Lekshmikutty took care of the
operations. |
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Mrs
K. Lakshmikutty,Deputy Director, Spices Board [standing]
attending to a visitor at the Board's stand at the Gulfood
Dubai.
Mr P. Jagadeesan, Deputy Director, is seen [left] with another
visitor |
Representatives
of Indian exporting companies with visitors |
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| Spain
offers scope for marketing Indian spices |
The
increasing liking of the Spanish for spices on account of
its health properties and the very strong presence of a large
ethnic population of Indians and Pakistanis in Spain throw
open big scope for Indian spices. Many of the importers of
spices based in Spain are experiencing procedural delays in
getting the Indian spices consignments cleared in Spanish
ports. Hence spices get transported to Spain by road from
other neighbouring European countries. During interactions
with business visitors during the participation of the Spices
Board at the Alimentaria ’08 at Barcelona during 10
– 14th March 2008, the Spanish spice importers wanted
the Spices Board to take up the issue of delays in quarantine
and customs clearance with the Spanish authorities.
This is for the first time that the Spices Board is showcasing
in Spain. Alimentaria ’08 is the most prestigious food
and beverages exhibition in Spain and has global representation.
Organized by Fira Barcelona in association with Reed exhibitions
Iberia, food industries from countries like Alemania, Argentina,
Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Bolgaria, Chile,
China, Chipre, Colombia, France, Estonia, Ecodaor, France,
Georgia, Greece, Guatemala, Holland, Hong Kong, Hungary, Ireland,
Italy, Japan, Jordan, Lituania, Malaysia, Mexico, Panama,
Peru, Portugal, Puertorico, Rumania, Russia, Senegal, Singapore,
Thailand, Turkey, Uruguay, Venizuala etc. made their presence.
This fair profiled food sector, milk and dairy products, wine,
beverages, organic foods and products, bakery and confectionaries
and multi product pavilions. There was tremendous response
to the Spices Board’s participation with visitors showing
serious interests. The Board was represented by Dr. J. Thomas,
Director (Research).
Many dignitaries of Spanish Government including Ministers
of Agriculture, Trade and Tourism visited the Spices Board
Pavilion. Mr. Sudheep Kumar, Counsellor, Indian Embassy and
Mr. Louise Valeriano Gonzalez, Counsellor General of India
spent considerable amount of time discussing the potential
of Indian Spices in Spain. The Counsellor suggested that the
Spices Board may regularly participate in the Alimentaria
exhibition. |
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A
view of the Board stall at Alimenatria 08 |
Dr.
J. Thomas, Director at the stand. |
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Spice
Events 
