Indian team leaves for cashew expo in Istanbul

A five-member Indian delegation led by Walter D'Souza, chairman of the Cashew Export Promotion Council of India (CEPCI), will participate in the Exponut 2006, an international trade fair for nuts, dried fruits, products and technologies, being held in Istanbul, Turkey, from June 22 to June 24.

India is participating in the Exponut for the first time on a special invitation from the organisers.

The earlier versions of the Istanbul Exponut had attracted over 3,000 importers and exporters from 45 countries. This year, over 5,000 people from 60 countries are expected.

Besides importers and exporters, manufacturers of finished items of nuts and dried fruits like international brands of chocolates, biscuits, bread, edible nut oils and ice-creams will participate. This is the largest international event in West Asia.

Exports of cashewnut from India to Turkey have seen a sudden spurt of over 70 per cent a year during the last two years and the ministry of commerce has identified Turkey as being among the 57 countries recently notified under the 'focus market' category.

Against this background, the role of the delegation assumes importance.

During their stay in Istanbul, the delegates will hold a meeting with the existing as well as prospective importers of cashewnut in Turkey.

They will also invite Turkish importers to participate in the first-ever global buyer-seller meet of CEPCI being held in Kovalam, Thiruvananthapuram, in September this year.