According to Cashew Export Promotion Council of India (CEPCI), some 30 foreign countries are expected to participate in the CEPCI-sponsored World Cashew Congress to be inaugurated at the International Convention Centre here. Around 300 delegates, one-third of them from foreign countries, would be attending the Congress. Foreign countries participating in the meet include the US, the UK, Tanzania, Australia, the Netherlands, Singapore, Vietnam, Indonesia, Brazil and Ivory Coast. Some of the countries would also send their concerned ministers and other top officials, the CEPCI sources said.

The Congress would help the industry set a new cashew kernel export target of Rs 5,000 crore over the next five years. India currently has a share of 65 per cent in the global market of cashew kernels competing with major competitors like Vietnam, Brazil and Indonesia.

The disintegration of the Soviet Union in the early '90s had hit Indian cashew exporters hard. The then Soviet Union was the largest buyer of Indian cashew. While identifying new markets, the CEPCI will also look into ways to revive the trade with Russia. Sources in cashew trade said there was no shortage of raw nuts. However, there was the need to increase area under cultivation so that there would never be a resource crunch. The Congress would deliberate on the various issues facing the cashew industry like the global scenario, production, processing and marketing. It will look into the different aspects of quality maintenance and packaging.