A delegation from Lebanon led by the country’s Agriculture Minister Akram Chehayeb visited his Indian counterpart Radha Mohan Singh here on Friday to explore opportunities to enhance bilateral agricultural trade.

“Lebanon is looking to export honey, olive oil, wines and fruits like apples and grapes. Poultry is another sector where exports can be increased,” said Henri Atallah, one of Chehayeb’s Advisors.

An official statement related that Singh urged the delegation to invest in setting up Mega Food Parks and cold chain infrastructure in India, and also to promote information exchange on processing techniques for fruits and vegetables.

Singh also highlighted India’s ability to export potatoes, tomatoes, durum wheat and sugar to the small west Asian nation bordering war-torn Syria and which USAID estimates as having the highest cultivable land per capita in the Middle East.

Import duty issues

Atallah noted that to work around the issue of high import duties in India, particularly for wines (upwards of 152 per cent) and on refined olive oil (15 per cent) that Lebanon wishes to export, the two Governments are working on a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which he expects will be finalised and operational soon along with visa procedures being simplified on both sides.

“Customs duties here work out to nearly 220 per cent for us and we’re hopeful of that changing since India is a significant market with large elite that appreciates good wine,” said Zafar Chaoui, Chairman, Lebanese Wine Makers Association.

Chaoui said that despite only 9 million bottles produced each year, Lebanon exports nearly 45 per cent to more than 32 countries at prices ranging between $5 and $50.

“We have superior quality grapes including the indigenous obedieh which is among the oldest varieties on Earth. Thus, the wine is different and we are extremely interested in selling to India,” he added.

India’s exported $69.41 million worth of agricultural goods to Lebanon in 2013-14 while importing commodities amounting to $0.47 million.

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