India woos African buyers at global trade exhibition

India is looking at exporting its marine products to the African continent and expanding its spice exports, amongst others.

A 50-member delegation from India’s ministry of Commerce and Industry participated in Africa's biggest trade fair - the South African international trade exhibition (SAITEX) - which started in Johannesburg on Sunday.

"It is the first time we have come to such a large exhibition in South Africa to showcase India as the biggest producer of vannamei prawns and a host of other aquaculture products with our land farming of fish," Leena Nair, chairman of the marine products export development authority was quoted by the New Indian Express newspaper as saying, pointing out that they were looking at exporting value-added processed seafood.

Furthermore, the Spices Board of India took up four of the stalls in the Indian section as its members attempt to grow its markets in Africa.

Spices Board chairman A Jayathilak reportedly said that there was increasing demand for Indian spices due to growth in the number of Indian restaurants and popularity of the spices.