The Indian Grape Processing Board (IGPB), set up under the ministry of food processing industries, plans to participate in SITEVI , an international exhibition dedicated to vine and wine, fruit and vegetable and olive-growing sectors that will be held during November 26-28 at the Montpellier Exhibition Centre in France.
This is the first time that IGPB and the Indian wine sector will be participating in an exhibition of this nature. Jagdish Holkar, chairman, IGPB, said he would be joining different offices such as OIV, FIVS, INAO?France, the Indian Embassy, ADEPTA and VINIFERA to represent the Indian wine industry. Last month, IGPB was invited by the World Wine Trade Group (WWTG) as an observer at an international-level meet of the group that was held at Washington DC in the US. India is also the first country from Asia to become the member of the Paris-based International Organization of Vine and Wine (OIV). Participation in an exhibition like this is expected to give international exposure to the Indian wine industry.
Sitevi is being held in the heart of the Mediterranean basin, in the Languedoc-Roussillon region, France?s number one wine-producing region. The exhibition has a global reach with participation of 1,062 companies from 22 countries and admissions from 54 countries. So, the Indian wine sector is keen to participate, he said.
SITEVI has been consolidating its reputation as a trade show for all types of wine-growing practices (traditional, environment-friendly, organic and bio-
dynamic) as well as fruit and vegetable and olive-growing activities (plants, seeds, packing and more). The show will feature a complete range of equipment for the wine-growing, fruit-farming, market-gardening, olive-growing, wine-making and oenology, packing, packaging and services sectors, as well as harvester manufacturers.
Promotional campaigns have already been organised in 28 countries, including a world tour, to raise the profile of the exhibition in China, Croatia, Spain, Italy and Portugal, to name a few countries. In terms of exhibitors, SITEVI will be welcoming new companies from countries such as Bulgaria, Italy, Germany, the UK and Spain. This time around, the Indian wine industry may also get a peek into the practices adopted by other nations.
IGPB has been holding promotional events in international markets, including Thailand and London. The board has been targeting markets in Hong Kong and Singapore as well. The wine market in India is growing at 13% annually. India has around 70 wineries and, barring a few big players such as Sula Wines, Grover Zampa Wines and the UB Group, the remaining wineries continue to remain either bulk suppliers or end up making wines in the entry-level segment.