India might soon acquire another distinction all over the Kingdom, and possibly all across the Gulf states, as “land of spices,” if the proposed Spices Board of India campaign yields the targeted impact with desired results.
The state-owned Spices Board, which is working with the Indian spice exporters and growers to promote spices, especially cardamom in the Kingdom and the Gulf countries, has already brought a delegation to the Kingdom with the sole mission to promote Indian spices.
The delegation of Indian spice exporters and growers took part in a buyer-seller meeting at the Riyadh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) and interacted with Saudi businessmen, here Sunday.
“The Spices Board is also working out a campaign focusing on the health benefits of spices as part of the efforts to promote exports of authentic Indian spices, especially cardamom,” Spices Board Secretary P. M. Sureshkumar said on the sidelines of the meeting at the RCCI.
A similar meeting will also be organized in Jeddah this week, said Sureshkumar, adding that the Spices Board in cooperation with the RCCI and the Riyadh-based Embassy of India organized the delegation.
The business meeting at the RCCI was attended by Ashok Warrier, first secretary at the Indian embassy; Anjo Jose, executive director of Mas Enterprises; Hemen Ruparel, CEO of Samex Agency; and Ramasamy Mathavan, an exporter, besides Indian spice farmers — K. M. Sulthan Ibrahim, Poonkanveettil Rajan Sathi and Mohamed Rowther Najmudeen.
Sureshkumar said the delegation had several cardamom exporters and growers because of the substantial exports of cardamom from India to Riyadh.
In India, green cardamom is broadly used to treat infections of teeth and gums. Cardamom is also used to prevent and treat throat trouble, congestion of the lungs and pulmonary tuberculosis, inflammation of eyelids and also digestive disorders. In Arab countries, cardamom is used as aphrodisiac.
“This year we had a huge increase of cardamom exports to Saudi Arabia from India,” said Sureshkumar, adding that pepper, turmeric, ginger, curry powder and many other spices are exported by India.
“The total value of Indian cardamom exports to Saudi Arabia alone exceeded SR174 million last year,” said Sureshkumar. The total Indian spices’ exports, mainly composed of cardamom, pepper, ginger, turmeric, seed spices and curry powder, have been in the region of SR318 million.
In fact, spices exports from India have registered substantial growth during the last five years, registering an annual average growth rate of 21percent in value and 8 percent in volume. During the year 2010-11, spices export from India has registered an all time high both in terms of quantity and value.
“India commands a formidable position in the world spice trade with 48 percent share in volume and 44 percent in value,” said Sureshkumar.
India can now boast as the monopoly supplier of spice oils and oleoresins the world over.
In the case of curry powders, spice powders, spice mixtures and spices in consumer packs, India is in a formidable position.
The consistent effort of the Board during the last one-decade has improved the share of the value added products in the export basket to more than 55 percent. The Spices Board will also be promoting Indian spices at London Olympics this year.