Sale of Indian rice to Egypt takes quantum leap

Kolkata, May 22: The sale of Indian rice has increased from USD 21million to USD 55 million in the period 2016-2017, and India is now looking at possibilities for supply of other products, including tea, to Egypt, former India’s former Ambassador to Egypt, Mr Sanjay Bhattacharyya said.

A small consignment of 20,000 tons of rice, which India had sent in 2016 to help Egypt cope up with the shortage in rice just before Ramadan, 'promoted the preference for Indian rice and the fact that Indian rice is available for Egyptians', the diplomat told UNI on the sidelines of 'Economic Climate and Business Opportunities in the Republic of Turkey and The Arab Republic of Egypt', a special session organised by Bharat Chambers of Commerce in Kolkata last night.

Mr Bhattacharyya who is now going to assume office as India's Ambassador to Turkey said the demand for Indian agri-products in Egypt has assumed a 'growing trend' after 2016 and other products were being looked at based on the demand posed by the Supply Ministry of Egypt.

'Recently a large delegation from Tea Board visited Egypt and had very useful discussions. We will be probably be having large consignments going from here and fit into their system," the diplomat said.

Mr Bhattacharya said textile products have played an important role in the Indo-Egyptian bilateral relations. The participation of Cotton Textile Promotion Council, also known as Texprocil in the 'Cairo Fashion and Tex Exhibition' held in the capital city of Egypt, in March last, had further boosted the cooperation in this segment.

" India is the largest supplier of cotton yarns as well as cotton fabric to Egypt. However, India's cooperation in the textile sector does not end with this. India is also providing help to modernise the textile industry of Egypt by providing equipment and skill set, " he said.

"India is working with the Ministry of Public Business of Egypt which looks after the PSUs of the country. We have now begun a programme to reestablish the old textile mills with modern equipment from India," the diplomat informed

Some of them, he said, was done on Line of Credit basis and some of them on buy basis.

"In terms of skill promotion, we have opened a vocational training centre in textile which trains 300 people every year in latest textile manufacturing processes similar to what is used in India textile factories," he said.

The diplomat pointed out this has earned India lot of appreciation from Egyptian side and has put India in the advantageous position.

He said India is also looking to set up the India Investment Park in the Suez Canal Economic Zone.

The Indo-Egyptian trade which had declined after Egyptian revolution in 2012, registered a growth of 15 per cent, he said.

Asked about the cultural cooperation between India and Egypt, the diplomat said, the Indian embassy had organised Tagore festival for three years, which was hugely successful. "I will be doing the same thing when I go to Turkey, as it helps to bring out new people every time who want to be friends with India," he added.