Bhubaneswar: June 01: ‘There is a huge scope to enhance export of foods, processed foods, agricultural products and marine products to GCC Countries, especially UAE. There is a strong demand of Indian Products among the 3.3 million strong Indian populations in the UAE. But, only 18 percent of food products imported by UAE come from India. Even countries like US, Canada and Brazil have better share of Indian Products than UAE’, Union Minister of Petroleum Dharmendra Pradhan said’.
Writing a letter to Chief Minister of Odisha Naveen Patnaik, Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has asked for cooperation to link farmers, producers of marine products, and SMEs involved in food processing sector with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC ) market.
Products from Odisha like non -basmati aromatic rice from western Odisha, marine products from Chilika, mangoes, exotic flowers, turmeric from Kandhamal , ginger from Koraput can be exported to these markets to double the income of farmers, Pradhan suggested.
Pradhan further said, in his recent visit to Abu Dhabi and Dubai, he met investors particularly interested in industries dealing with food, food processing and marine products in Odisha.
He wrote, ‘I have made special reference regarding Paradip Port which has the potential to come up as a food processing hub for GCC countries. Also, I have highlighted the varied agro climatic zones, forest coverage, water availability, trained and skilled productive manpower of Odisha.’
