The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), operating under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, participated as the Export Partner in the 4th edition of World Food India (WFI) 2025, which took place at Bharat Mandapam, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi.
With a total of 142 exhibitors and 120 stalls, APEDA’s pavilion highlighted the diverse offerings of India’s agri-food sector. This included GI-tagged products, Basmati rice, millets, organic produce, livestock products, and value-added foods. The pavilion also showcased thematic zones such as the GI Gallery, Fresca Zone, the Basmati Export Development Foundation stall, and the BHARTI Zone, which focused on startups and innovation.
As the Export Partner, APEDA organized the Reverse Buyer-Seller Meet (RBSM), which drew more than 530 international buyers from 68 countries. Among the buyers were leading global supermarket chains, including Walmart, Nesto, Al Madina, Mustafa Singapore, and Choithram. The event facilitated over 4,654 tailored B2B meetings, offering Indian exporters and startups an exceptional opportunity to explore new markets, present innovative products, and forge long-term business relationships.
Further strengthening its role in global market expansion, APEDA signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with LuLu Hypermarket LLC on September 25, 2025. This partnership, part of the BHARTI (Bharat’s Hub for Agritech Resilience, Advancement, and Incubation for Export Enablement) Initiative, will offer Indian agri-food startups retail space in 252 LuLu outlets across the GCC. The collaboration also includes product sampling campaigns, consumer engagement activities, and access to LuLu’s export division for worldwide distribution.
The BHARTI Initiative was another significant highlight at WFI 2025, featuring a dedicated stall and a seminar titled “From Farm to Global Markets: Startup-Driven Innovation for Agri-Food Exports.” The session brought together policymakers, industry leaders, and innovators to discuss strategies for empowering 100 agri-food ventures through mentorship, branding, technology adoption, and market intelligence.
Speaking at the event, Shri Abhishek Dev, Chairman of APEDA, remarked that World Food India 2025 marked a pivotal moment in showcasing India’s agri-food potential to the global community. He highlighted that APEDA successfully brought together over 140 exhibitors and more than 500 buyers from 68 countries, creating thousands of business opportunities through B2B meetings. The Reverse Buyer-Seller Meet, the MoU with LuLu Hypermarket, and the BHARTI Initiative were all testaments to APEDA’s commitment to supporting startups, fostering international partnerships, and creating a forward-looking, innovation-driven export ecosystem.
Through its active participation at WFI 2025, APEDA reaffirmed its mission to develop a globally competitive agri-food export sector. By leveraging large-scale buyer engagement, international collaborations, and startup-driven innovation, APEDA is reinforcing India’s position as a trusted partner in global food trade and a leader in sustainable, innovation-led growth.
