UK firms scouting for tie-ups in ethnic Indian food segment

Ethnic Indian food may soon be imported from the UK as some UK entrepreneurs are in a serious pursuit of trade tie-ups with Indian companies in this segment.

Leicester-based East Midlands Ethnic Food Forum sees a great potential for Indo-UK trade in ethnic food. The eight-month-old organisation has 93 members, of whom 30 are ethnic food manufacturers.

"The Indian food that is made in England, with less masalas to appeal to the English palate, is finding equal favour with the Indians too. We're keenly exploring tie-ups with the Indian partners to export both Indian and British ethnic food to India," Ninesh Patel, chairman of East Midlands Ethnic Food Forum, said.

The forum, whose members already account for a total business of £30 million, has tied up with Maratha Chamber of Commerce and Kerala Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (Kinfra) to explore trade and investments. Patel said that the forum was planning to set up a separate food park in Leicester.

"The UK is considered to be a springboard for launching ethnic food products. The forum plans to facilitate manufacture of ethnic food items in India, in compliance with the UK standards. This would make way for exports to other developed countries too from the country," he added.