Piyush Goyal to distribute trophies and awards for Excellence in Exports of Spices on 17th February 2023
With an aim to open up newer opportunities to promote international trade of Indian spices, the 14th edition of the World Spice Congress (WSC), is to be held in Mumbai from 16-18 February 2023.
D Sathiyan, Secretary, Spices Board, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, stated that this edition of the WSC is special because it coincides with India’s G20 presidency. The event, organised to create a platform not only for traders but also policy regulators, will have special business sessions dedicated to promoting spice trade among the G20 countries. Policy makers, regulatory authorities, spice trade associations, government officials as well as technical experts from key G20 countries will participate in the event, informed Sathiyan.
The theme of the WSC 2023 is VISION 2030: S-P-I-C-E-S (Sustainability, Productivity, Innovation, Collaboration, Excellence and Safety).
Speaking about choosing Maharashtra as the venue for the WSC, Sathiyan said, “Maharashtra is a one of the leading states producing spices. It is the largest producer of turmeric in India. Maharashtra produces two GI tagged turmeric varieties and one GI tagged chilli variety. Coastal areas of Maharashtra are also known for production of GI tagged Kokum. The state is one of the largest exporting hubs for spices.”
Sathiyan also said that during 2022-23, there has been an increased demand for certain spices, especially the seed spices including cumin, fenugreek, Bishop’s weed (Ajwain), Dill, Poppy, Aniseed, Mustard and others. Garlic has registered an increase of 170% in quantity during April-October 2022 compared to the same period last year. Some other spices such as Saffron, which had a bumper crop in the current season, Asafoetida, Cinnamon and Cassia also show a positive trend. Value added products derived from spices such as curry powder also show a positive trend.
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