VIA Agro Rural Development & Food Processing Forum organised a workshop on “Export Potential of Agro Commodities from Vidarbha” on 9th January 2025 at VIA Auditorium, Nagpur.
The workshop was organised to provide an insight on the emerging global market to help the budding exporters to understand the constraints and goals around their international efforts.
Chief Guest of the function, Snehal Dhokey ITS, Asst DGFT, in her speech elaborated how DGFT facilitates exporters in development of international trade. The support is provided by issuing licences, guidance on govt schemes and export financing options.
She advised the participants that we have to identify the product and then streamline it for export. We are leading in many of the agricultural commodities. We are also leading in export, especially rice, but still there are certain things where India is lagging, so if we see the total agricultural export from India. In the last financial year, it was around 48 billion USD and the major countries which are importing from India. Those are mostly the U.S.A, China, UAE, Saudi.
She further stressed that branding, packaging, marketing is also important for your products. She also cited the region’s strengths in engineering goods, pharmaceuticals and agricultural products, while many entrepreneurs have achieved significant success in the domestic market, the untapped opportunities in the global arena present a substantial growth potential.
Santosh Bishnoi, Branch Manager – ECGC, Nagpur said the biggest challenge in export is payment of security and problem of non-payment from foreign buyers. He gave thorough information on this and also credit ratings of different countries.
Ulhas Mahule, Director of US Enterprises, shared detailed documentation required for exports, logistics, and basics for processed food.

Swapnil Ahirkar, Director of Ahirkar International shared practical challenges faced in the international market. He also advised the potential exporters to be focussed on domestic markets with strong based.
Ritesh Patankar, Orange Organics Dubai shared his experiences and assured possible support for Indian exporters there.
Earlier, the workshop commenced with the lighting up of the lamp by the dignitaries. Om Jajodia, Chairman of the forum offered a floral welcome to the Guests. R B Goenka, Mentor – VIA Agro Rural Development & Food Processing Forum delivered his welcome address.
Project Director, Dr Rina Saha made an opening remark and informed about the activities of the forum. Energetic team of VIA Agro forum including Dr Kirti Sirotia, Aniruddh Ansingkar, Sanjay Sinha, Laxmikant Padole, Kapil Sahoo and Shipra Dixit worked hard for the grand success of the event.
Dr Kiran Gokhale proposed a vote of thanks to all the invited speakers & enthusiastic participants for active involvement.
A very large number of participants who attended the program were satisfied with the active interaction.