EU Takes Part In Annapoorna Food Festival

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The European Union is participating for the first time in the Annapoorna Food Festival that began on Wednesday at the Bombay Exhibition Centre in Goregaon, Mumbai. The EU has one of the biggest pavilions in this Indian food festival.

The EU pavilion offers a culinary tour of the region and the diversity of European cuisine. There are interactive sessions to inform and educate consumers on the availability of quality products such as fresh and processed fruits and vegetables, a variety of cheeses and other dairy products, the high-on-demand extra virgin olive oils and wine. There are also live cooking sessions and food tastings by experts to acquaint visitors about best possible ways to use these products.

Besides, experts will share recipes and tips on European cooking. There are also seminars to highlight the uses and benefits of various European foods; why olive oil is healthy in daily diet; and on EU various quality schemes at the Annapoorna Food Festival.
H.E. Dr João Cravinho, Ambassador of the European Union, said, "The EU produces a spectacular variety of quality food, from wines and spirits, olive oils, cheeses and other dairy products, to fresh and processed fruits and vegetables and many more. Few of these products have already become an integral part of the Indian kitchen. Through this campaign, we encourage the Indian consumer to add some EU flavours to their already rich culinary tradition!"

In agricultural trade, the EU is currently a modest partner for India, but one with big potential. EU exports to India over the last 10 years have been oscillating around € 250 - 300 million. On the other hand, the import of Indian agricultural produce into the EU currently stands at € 2.7 billion, of which a large part is accounted for by Basmati rice followed by coffee, fruit and nuts, vegetables and spices. Products such as olive oil, essential oils, sugars, chocolates, confectionery and prepared vegetable and meat constitute a large share of the EU's agriculture-based exports to India.

Monique Pariat, Deputy Director-General, DG Agriculture, European Commission said, "The EU and India are working together to draw up a Free Trade Agreement (FTA). This will enable Indian consumers more than ever to experience the tastes of European foods. And likewise, the FTA will also enable Europeans to enjoy India's unique culinary traditions. Indeed, a future FTA will present significant benefits to consumers from both countries."

The EU's presence at the Annapoorna World of Food India signifies Europe's focus on India as a key country for agriculture-based products trade. In India, there is a fast-growing demand for European foods such as dairy, olive oil, malt and processed agricultural products. For the EU, India is a potential growth market for exports. Agricultural product exports have been growing steadily over the past few years from 0.9 percent of total exports in 2009 to 1.3 percent in 2013 and are set to increase even further.