The Hindu Business Line : Delegates from 33 nations to take part in World Spice Congress

Kochi Jan. 22 With nearly 150 delegates from 33 countries and over 225 Indian delegates poised to participate, the ninth World Spice Congress to be held in Goa has evoked universal and wide response. There has been a phenomenal rise in global participation with the number of international delegates nearing the 150-mark, a press release from the Spices Board has said.

The profile of delegates includes customers, leading buyers, brokers, regulators and suppliers from around the world. Organised jointly by the Spices Board and the All-India Spices Exporters Forum, the World Spice Congress has attracted maximum delegates from the US. Delegates are also due from countries such as Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, Finland, France, Germany, Indonesia, Italy, Jordan, South Korea, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Japan, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Taiwan, Turkey, the UK and Vietnam. Most of these are major market for Indian spices.

Theme

The theme of the congress is Harmonization – The emerging global need. In view of the recent developments in areas of contaminants and significant changes in the legal and regulatory environment in most countries of the world, the theme assumes global significance and relevance. Speakers include Mr Larry Keener, Co-founder and Co-chair of the Global Harmonisation Initiative, who will talk on the need to build initiatives to harmonise food laws around the world. Mr Katrin Hoenicke from the Eurofins Competence Centre, Hamburg is expected to cover the differences in analytical results and tests, and the means to develop harmonised food laws around the world.

Mr Ian Hart from Public Ledger, a global agricultural crop production and price tracking company is expected to provide an interesting paper on production of specific crops in various parts of the world, their price trends and the outlook in the forthcoming seasons. The business sessions will be held for half a day and the rest of the time will be available for networking and building relationships. Showcasing of the Indian spice industry by a cross-section of the industry is expected to add colour and glory to the event.

India occupies a prominent position not only in the world spice trade but also in production. No other country in the world produces as many spices as India does.

The list varies from hot spices such as chilli, pepper, ginger to mild pungent and spicy items such as cardamom, coriander, cumin and herbal spices such as thyme, rosemary, mint and finally vanilla from the orchid family. Annual production of these spices in recent years has gone well above four million tonnes.

Only 9-10 per cent of the total production is exported and the rest is consumed domestically.

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