• APEDA launched BHARATI (Bharat’s Hub for Agritech, Resilience, Advancement & Incubation for Export Enablement) to transform India’s agri-food export ecosystem.
• Program aims to develop 100 agri-food startups, provide incubation and technology support, and raise exports to $50B by 2030.
• Inaugurated by Piyush Goyal with UAE’s Foreign Trade Minister present, BHARATI underscores innovation, rural empowerment, and strengthened global trade partnerships.

The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) has introduced a milestone program, BHARATI, with the mission of revolutionizing India's agricultural and food export industry. The program was officially inaugurated in New Delhi at a meeting led by Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal. He was accompanied by Union Minister for Food Processing Industries, Chirag Paswan, and the UAE's Minister of Foreign Trade, Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, an important moment of global partnership in India's agri-food journey.

BHARATI, abbreviated as 'Bharat's Hub for Agritech, Resilience, Advancement and Incubation for Export Enablement', has been conceptualized to be a one-stop platform to enhance India's positioning in international markets. Its emphasis is on developing 100 agri-food startups, providing opportunities for entrepreneurs to innovate and grow their concepts and aiding India's export growth. The program is as much about aiding startups as it is about creating resilience and ensuring India's farm and processed food items meet the changing needs of overseas buyers.

The initiative has been established with a challenging mandate: to increase India's agri-food exports to 50 billion dollars by 2030. This mandate captures the size of India's agricultural economy, as well as the huge potential that lies in global trade. APEDA, through BHARATI, aims to unlock this potential by offering incubation assistance, technology know-how, and export facilitation to farmers and entrepreneurs who are operating in various agri-food segments. By enabling startups to introduce innovation into the industry, the initiative seeks to make Indian products competitive and sought after in the world market.

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In line with the government's flagship initiatives of 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' and 'Startup India', BHARATI embodies the greater vision of self-dependence, innovation, and sustainability. It will be expected to act as a catalyst for the development of India's agri-export ecosystem by filling gaps in technology, infrastructure, and international market access. In doing so, it seeks to focus on building resilience against adversity in the form of climate change, changing trade rules, and the changing expectations of global consumers.

The fact that the UAE's Minister of Foreign Trade attended the launch is also an indicator of increasing importance of India's bilateral partnerships with its international trading partners. The UAE has become a prime market for Indian agri-food exports, and the partnership is a move towards forging stronger bilateral trade relationships. The fact that international players are involved indicates trust in India's ability to become an international hub for agri-food products.

By BHARATI, APEDA seeks to create the path for a new generation in Indian agriculture where startups, innovation, and export preparedness come together to yield economic development alongside rural empowerment. The initiative, if successful, will not only achieve its export goals but place India as a strong and dependable supplier in the international agri-food market.