Mumbai: Following a diplomatic dispute between Russia and Ecuador, Russia has turned to Bharat for its banana imports, opening up a new market opportunity for the world’s largest banana producer.
The rift between Russia and its primary banana supplier, Ecuador, emerged after Ecuador’s decision to swap Russian-made military equipment with the US. Seizing the chance, Bharat swiftly stepped in to fill the gap left in the Russian market. A Mumbai-based exporter, Gurukrupa Corporation, has sent a consignment of 20-tonne (equivalent to 1540 boxes) bananas to Russia via sea route.
On February 17, Chairman of the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), Abhishek Dev, flagged off the maiden consignment, emphasizing the importance of exploring new markets and employing innovative shipping methods. Dev assured full support from APEDA to facilitate such endeavors, signaling Bharat’s readiness to capitalize on emerging opportunities.
Gurukrupa Corporation, known for its exports to the European Union and the Middle East markets, procures bananas directly from farmers in Andhra Pradesh, Bharat’s largest banana-producing state. The bananas undergo rigorous grading, sorting, packing, boxing, and containerization at an APEDA-approved packhouse in Maharashtra before being shipped overseas.
Bharat’s banana exports have traditionally been strong in markets such as Iran, Iraq, UAE, Oman, Uzbekistan, Saudi Arabia, Nepal, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Afghanistan, and the Maldives. With the addition of Russia to this list, Indian exporters are poised to expand their global footprint and strengthen bilateral trade ties.
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