Sunday 22 September 2013

Indian Grape Processing Board Eyes Asia Pacific For Wine Export

22-Sep-2013


The Indian Grape Processing Board (IGPB) is planning to increase the presence of Indian wine in the Hong Kong and Singapore markets, as a part of its strategy to increase wine export from the country in the Asia Pacific region.



To promote Indian wine, wineries are participating in a trade fair in Hong Kong, organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), in November 2013. A business conference will also be organised in Singapore by the IGPB, with the help of the Indian embassy in Singapore and the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA).



"Wine is made in Australia, Africa, South America and European countries. But India is the only major wine producing country in Asia. Our aim is to increase exports in the Asia Pacific region. As a part of this, we are initially targeting markets in Thailand, Singapore and Hong Kong, the major hubs for covering other Asia Pacific countries like Cambodia, Burma, Indonesia, Malaysia and Vietnam," Jagdish Holkar, chairman, IGPB, told TOI in Nashik on Sunday.



"We recently held wine and food tasting event at the India House in Bangkok - the official residence of the Indian ambassador to Thailand - to promote Indian wine in the country. Around 150 wine importers, food and beverage managers of various establishments and hospitality professionals participated in the programme. We also held business meetings with some wine importers and hotel mangers in Thailand. We are expecting good business from Thailand over the coming months. We are also targeting the markets in Hong Kong and Singapore. The primary objective is to promote Indian wine in these countries," Holkar said.



At present, wine production in the country stands at around 12 million litres a year, with a market size of Rs 480 crore. Export from India stands at around 12 lakh litres, valued at Rs 50 crore. Of the total wine sales in the country, the hospitality industry accounts for 65 per cent of the consumption, while the rest is accounted for by retail wine shops. Of the 93 wineries in India, 75 are located in Maharashtra. As many as 36 wineries are in Nashik, 12 in Pune, 13 in Sangli, five in Solapur, four in Osmanabad, three in Buldhana and one each in Latur and Ahmednagar. Maharashtra accounts for almost 91 per cent of the total wine produced in India and Nashik contributes to 80 per cent of the production from Maharashtra.


Source:- timesofindia.indiatimes.com





No comments:

Post a Comment