(MENAFN- The Peninsula) The Peninsula
Doha: Indian Business and Professionals Council (IBPC Qatar) in collaboration with the Agriculture and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA INDIA), under the initiative of the Embassy of India in Qatar, organised a virtual India–Qatar B2B Meeting (VBSM) between exporters and importers of agriculture on millets and value-added millet products recently.
Charge D'Affairs, Embassy of India to Qatar H E Angeline Premalatha was the Chief Guest. The Meet saw active participation of 100 plus companies from Indo-Qatar business entrepreneurs, joining over the web to forge new business partnerships. While actual numbers are still being worked out, organisers stated that several new business deals were struck during the two-hour Meet.
Addressing the gathering, Angeline said that India is the largest producer of millets in the world with an annual production of around 10 million tons. This year 2023 has been declared the International Year of Millets by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). India and Qatar have strong bilateral relations and the experts of the two sides take this VBSM based on Millets & Value-Added Millet Productions to newer heights on the occasion of the International Year of Millets. It is humbling to witness the Indian business community taking a step forward toward the promotion and sale of millet products, which have since seen a dramatic increase due to the promotional efforts by Indian businesses.
She urged all delegates to take advantage of the meet and explore opportunities for collaboration, cooperation, and establishing new partnerships. She assured the embassy's full support to Indian and Qatari business houses looking to expand bilateral economic ties between the two nations.
Vats stated that APEDA is working with 205 countries, exporting more than 1000 product ranges, and boasts good receptivity to every market, including The Americas, Asia and Europe. Especially this year mainly concentrate on the Millets & Value-Added Millet Products. Speaking on the occasion, IBPC President Jaffer Us Sadiq recounted efforts made by IBPC to enhance bilateral trade and economic ties between the two countries. As part of the International Year of Millets IBPC take the initiative to the Indian business community with much fervor, enthusiasm, and patriotism by promoting Millets and its products at their shops.
IBPC Qatar is dedicated to increasing awareness and widespread use of millets in Qatar through school awareness programs. The sale of millets has not only improved the health of the community but also provided a boost to the local economy.
Dr. Saswati Bose, General Manager APEDA, in her opening remarks, informed how APEDA was endeavoring to ensure Indian food product manufacturers, particularly small and medium-sized ones, reach global markets, and are able to offer their products & solutions to global users.
Dr. Saswati thanked officials of the Indian Embassy and IBPC for their support and cooperation in organizing the Meet.
The event featured the release of the e-catalog done by Smt. Angeline Premalatha , Charge D'Affairs: Embassy of India to Qatar, Jaffer Us Sadiq, President of IBPC and U K Vats General Manager.
The virtual networking session took place with a brief presentation on millets and millet products in India. The session included introductions by importers from Qatar and Indian exporters, coordinated by IBPC and APEDA, respectively. The networking and Q&A session were also taking place.
IBPC VP Abdul Sathar, who organized this VBSM, expressed IBPC's gratitude to all the dignitaries, participants, stakeholders, and partners for their support in making the event successful.