Bihar Hosts First Global Buyer Meet for Agri-Food Growth
26 May 2025
3 Min Read
CW Team
The Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI), in collaboration with the Government of Bihar, APEDA, and the Trade Promotion Council of India (TPCI), successfully concluded the inaugural International Buyer-Seller Meet (IBSM) in Bihar. Held over two days at Gyan Bhawan in Patna, the event marked a significant milestone in Bihar鈥檚 agri-food sector by directly connecting micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), and Self-Help Groups (SHGs) with international buyers.
Union Minister for Food Processing Industries, Shri Chirag Paswan, inaugurated the event, describing it as a transformative initiative aligned with the vision of a 鈥榁iksit Bharat鈥�. He emphasised Bihar鈥檚 rich heritage, agricultural strengths, and youth potential as the foundation of the state鈥檚 global economic integration.
The meet attracted over 70 international buyers from 20 countries鈥攊ncluding the UAE, UK, Germany, Japan, Ghana, and Singapore鈥攁s well as 50 domestic and 20 institutional buyers. More than 500 structured B2B meetings took place, generating strong export leads for GI-tagged products such as makhana (fox nut), Shahi litchi, Zardalu mango, and Katarni rice.
Key developments included strong interest from West African buyers in Sattu, a traditional high-protein food. Singaporean firms expressed interest in sourcing litchis and mangoes, while catering companies explored using Bihar鈥檚 agricultural produce for in-flight and railway meals.
A highlight was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between APEDA, the Bihar government, and UAE-based Lulu Group, focused on boosting exports of Bihar鈥檚 litchis by improving their shelf life.
Beyond trade deals, the IBSM featured a robust capacity-building programme. Experts from MoFPI, APEDA, NIFTEM-Kundli, ICRIER, EXIM Bank, the Indian Institute of Packaging, and Start-Up India conducted technical sessions on export preparedness, advanced packaging, certification, and formalising start-ups. MoFPI also spotlighted key schemes like PMFME, under which Bihar had the highest number of sanctioned units in FY25.
A public exhibition with 120+ exhibitors showcased Bihar鈥檚 full agri-food spectrum鈥攆rom FPOs and women-led SHGs to national brands and potential exporters鈥攈ighlighting the convergence of grassroots innovation and global ambition.
The success of the IBSM underscores strong Centre-State collaboration, effective multi-agency coordination, and a model for leveraging food processing to catalyse regional development. More than just a trade event, the IBSM symbolises India鈥檚 evolving food diplomacy, where local value chains anchor global partnerships. With strengthened infrastructure and export linkages, Bihar is now poised to emerge as a key player in positioning India as the Global Food Basket.
Image source:https://i.ytimg.com/vi/syuj7aoiI4I/maxresdefault.jpg
The Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI), in collaboration with the Government of Bihar, APEDA, and the Trade Promotion Council of India (TPCI), successfully concluded the inaugural International Buyer-Seller Meet (IBSM) in Bihar. Held over two days at Gyan Bhawan in Patna, the event marked a significant milestone in Bihar鈥檚 agri-food sector by directly connecting micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), and Self-Help Groups (SHGs) with international buyers.Union Minister for Food Processing Industries, Shri Chirag Paswan, inaugurated the event, describing it as a transformative initiative aligned with the vision of a 鈥榁iksit Bharat鈥�. He emphasised Bihar鈥檚 rich heritage, agricultural strengths, and youth potential as the foundation of the state鈥檚 global economic integration.The meet attracted over 70 international buyers from 20 countries鈥攊ncluding the UAE, UK, Germany, Japan, Ghana, and Singapore鈥攁s well as 50 domestic and 20 institutional buyers. More than 500 structured B2B meetings took place, generating strong export leads for GI-tagged products such as makhana (fox nut), Shahi litchi, Zardalu mango, and Katarni rice.Key developments included strong interest from West African buyers in Sattu, a traditional high-protein food. Singaporean firms expressed interest in sourcing litchis and mangoes, while catering companies explored using Bihar鈥檚 agricultural produce for in-flight and railway meals.A highlight was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between APEDA, the Bihar government, and UAE-based Lulu Group, focused on boosting exports of Bihar鈥檚 litchis by improving their shelf life.Beyond trade deals, the IBSM featured a robust capacity-building programme. Experts from MoFPI, APEDA, NIFTEM-Kundli, ICRIER, EXIM Bank, the Indian Institute of Packaging, and Start-Up India conducted technical sessions on export preparedness, advanced packaging, certification, and formalising start-ups. MoFPI also spotlighted key schemes like PMFME, under which Bihar had the highest number of sanctioned units in FY25.A public exhibition with 120+ exhibitors showcased Bihar鈥檚 full agri-food spectrum鈥攆rom FPOs and women-led SHGs to national brands and potential exporters鈥攈ighlighting the convergence of grassroots innovation and global ambition.The success of the IBSM underscores strong Centre-State collaboration, effective multi-agency coordination, and a model for leveraging food processing to catalyse regional development. More than just a trade event, the IBSM symbolises India鈥檚 evolving food diplomacy, where local value chains anchor global partnerships. With strengthened infrastructure and export linkages, Bihar is now poised to emerge as a key player in positioning India as the Global Food Basket.Image source:https://i.ytimg.com/vi/syuj7aoiI4I/maxresdefault.jpg
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