The largest ever matchmaking session between multinationals and leading Indian players in the food retail sector, expected to take place in October, has been postponed to February next year.
Sources close to the development told FE that the international retailers, mostly from the European Union (EU), backed out pointing out the massive outcry against organised retailers procuring farm products directly from the farmers.
In the meeting, the global retail who?s who – including
Carrefour, Auchan, EDEKA, Eroski, Superunie, El Corte Ingles and Coop – was to sit down for a matchmaking session with domestic giants Field Fresh, Heritage, Godrej Agrovet, Tatas, Essar Agrotech, Global Green Company and Shriram Chemicals to explore tie-ups in sourcing and export in the food retail sector.
However, interestingly, the official reason cited is that the meeting was almost coinciding with a global trade fair held in Cologne (Germany) every two years.
?All that can be said is that the chicken has died before it could be hatched. Though the official reason is that they are focusing more on the global trade fair, we are in the know that the hue and cry over organised retail in the country has made these retailers uncomfortable. We are looking to regain their confidence, but the coming February is the earliest when we can expect some results,? a source in the know of things told FE.
The products, which will get initial focus includes gherkins, mango, grapes, lychees, papaya, peas, green asparagus, snow peas, pomegranate and baby corn.
The government also expects the private sector to play an important role in building modern infrastructure, including export terminal markets, cold storages and food processing centres.
India?s agri and processed food exports are worth Rs 20,500 crore, growing at 10% every year.