Thaindian News

Mumbai, Feb 8 (IANS) The Global Pulses Conclave (GPC), the first such meet in India for the pulses industry and trade, will be held here next week, the organisers said Wednesday.

The three-day event starting Feb 15 is supported by the consumer affairs department of the central consumer affairs, food and public distribution ministry, the India Pulses and Grains Association (IPGA) said.

“Asia is the focus of the world pulses market and GPC will enable stakeholders in the pulses sector viz., producers, processors, traders, consumers, machinery suppliers, policy makers, financiers, analysts and related others to get together and plan their business strategies for the year ahead by networking with business associates from around the world,” said IPGA president Pravin Dongre.

Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Secretary Rajiv Agarwal will inaugurate the event, while Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution K.V. Thomas will deliver the valedictory address.

GPC will host a seminar, an exhibition and a series of B2B meetings between stakeholders. The seminar will include a series of presentations by speakers from India and abroad.

International organisations like ETG Group from east Africa, Columbia Grain from US, and SASCAN Canada are likely to make major announcements about their plans of investments in India at the conclave.

An 11-member delegation headed by Gordan Bacon from Pulse Canada and a five-member delegation led by Gavin Gibson from Pulse Australia will participate in the conclave alongside delegations from other exporting countries like Myanmar, Africa, Europe and the US.

As a part of the conclave IPGA will also organise panel discussions on five pulses like peas, chickpeas, urad/moong, Kabuli chickpeas and red and green lentils.

Each panel will include one representative each from the exporting countries and India. Each panel will present an outlook for the respective crop in their country.