Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said on Friday that Egypt, one of the world’s largest wheat importers, which has been importing grains from Russia and Ukraine, has agreed to supply from India.
“Egyptian Agricultural Quarantine and Pest Risk Analysis officials visited various processing units, port facilities and farms in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Punjab. And we have decided to export the best quality wheat,” the minister said.
Mr Goyal said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had called on him to ensure that the best quality wheat is exported to Egypt to ensure that India makes a mark in that country in terms of wheat exports.
The Egyptian delegation’s visit to India comes after several trade talks and meetings with various wheat importing countries, which are exploring possibilities of sourcing grain from alternative sources as supplies have been disrupted due to the Russia and Ukraine conflict.
“During his visit to Dubai last month, Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal also met Dr. Hala Al-Saeed, the Minister of Planning and Economic Development of Egypt and the supply of high-quality wheat to ensure Egypt’s food security. India’s readiness for the same was discussed,” the government said in a press release.
Egypt imported 6.1 million tonnes (mt) of wheat in 2021, when India was not part of the list of recognized countries that could export wheat to Egypt.
More than 80% of Egypt’s wheat imports, estimated to be worth $2 billion in 2021, were from Russia and Ukraine.
The increase in wheat exports is mostly driven by demand from countries like Bangladesh, UAE, Qatar, Sri Lanka, Oman and Malaysia, a government release said.
However, India is making efforts to promote wheat exports to other countries including Yemen, Afghanistan and Indonesia.
India has been a relatively minor player in the global wheat trade till 2020-21. The minister said that India could export only 0.2 million tonnes and 2 million tonnes of wheat in 2019-20 and 2020-21 respectively.