Cashew body to take part in world tree nut meet

The Indian delegation to the World Treenut Convention being held at Montreal, Canada from May 12-14, will be led by Walter D'Souza, chairman, Cashew Export Promotion Council of India (CEPCI). Indian delegation will have seven other members.

According to a CEPCI press release, the international convention is organised by the International Nut Council (INC) which is headquartered at Reus, Spain.

Global leaders in the nut-food processing industry from about 100 countries will participate in the three-day deliberations to address issues such as generic, food and health promotion, consumer welfare, organic farming, value-addition, technological upgradation, R&D, packaging, global treenut trade and net-working.

The participants would include prominent nut-food processors of almonds, cashews, pistachios, hazelnuts, macadamia, Brazilnuts, walnuts, peanuts, morels, apricots, pinenuts, pumpkin seeds, sunflower, etc.

India is the leader in the world on all aspects of cashew industry and exports. With 67 per cent share in processing and 33 per cent share in consumption, India has an important role in the INC.

As a Nation, this convention assumes all the more importance as India is bidding for rights of hosting the 2008 convention in India for the first time in the history of INC. At the recently held board meeting in Rome, Indian bid has been shortlisted along with China and Egypt. The final decision will be taken at Montreal on 14th May 2006.

The CEPCI, which is organising the first ever global buyer-seller meet (BSM) in September at Thiruvananthapuram, will be using Montreal convention as the launch-pad to register maximum participation from all stakeholders in the industry from all parts of the world.

The Indian BSM is expected to generate $100 million (Rs 450 crore) worth additional exports of cashews from India, the release added.