Guwahati: The Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) North East is set to organize an awareness workshop on ‘Export Development of High-Value Fruits & Vegetable Crops from Arunachal Pradesh’ to bolster the export potential of high-value fruits and vegetables from the state.

“The ICC wants to promote the export of high-value fruits and vegetables to potential markets such as Dubai, North Africa, Europe, and Singapore while identifying and addressing the infrastructure needs, including energy-efficient cold storage, transportation, processing facilities, and retail markets for high-value crops," ICC Assam State Council Chairman Sarat Jain informed Business North East.

According to the organizers, the primary objective of the conference is to “develop a roadmap for the cultivation of high-value fruits and vegetables, post-harvest infrastructure, and primary processing in Arunachal Pradesh.” The conference will also focus on market linkages, raise awareness among Farmer Producer Companies (FPCs) and Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) about exports, and encourage their participation.

Through this programme, Jain told Business North East, the ICC wants to inform potential exporters about “various terms and technicalities involved in export documentation” as well as encourage food processing industries to invest in the Northeast and bridge the market gap.

According to Jain, Arunachal Pradesh has already identified the need to transition from traditional horticulture practices to high-value horticulture “to tap into the vast global market potential.”

Acknowledging the abundance of high-value fruits and vegetables in the frontier state, the chairman emphasized the crucial role of creating awareness among farmers and exporters about “market opportunities, export potential, development, and infrastructure needs.” “The ICC also aims to bridge this knowledge gap by initiating the first step through the upcoming conference," he added.

The event, scheduled for December 20 in the Pasighat town of East Siang district, will be held in collaboration with the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), under the Ministry of Commerce.

The conference is expected to host distinguished dignitaries, including representatives from APEDA, the Ministry of Commerce, and several renowned academics.