The Agricultural and Processed Food Export Development Authority (APEDA), the Indian government’s agricultural export facilitation arm, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with LuLu Group International, a leading retail chain in the Middle East and Asia.
The agreement was formalised in Mumbai earlier this week in the presence of Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade.
Under the MoU, LuLu Group will feature a broad range of certified Indian organic products in its stores across the United Arab Emirates (UAE). APEDA will play a crucial role in this partnership by connecting organic growers in India—encompassing Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), Farmer Producer Companies (FPCs), and cooperatives—with the retail giant.
The Indian government anticipates that this collaboration will enhance the global visibility of Indian organic products. The MoU outlines several initiatives aimed at promoting these products, including dedicated shelf space in LuLu hypermarkets for goods certified under the National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP).
The agreement also includes promotional activities such as product sampling, interactive events, consumer feedback drives, Buyer-Seller Meets (BSMs), B2B meetings, and trade fairs. Additionally, Indian FPOs, FPCs, and cooperatives will have opportunities to visit LuLu Group’s facilities in the UAE to gain insights into international retail markets.
“This partnership is expected to significantly expand the global reach of Indian organic products and contribute to the growth of organic farming in India by creating stronger linkages between Indian producers and global consumers,” stated the commerce ministry.
APEDA is tasked with promoting the export of agricultural and processed food products from India and serves as the Secretariat for the NPOP, which regulates organic exports from India. LuLu Group, headquartered in Abu Dhabi, operates over 250 hypermarkets and supermarkets and is renowned for its influence in the retail sector across the GCC, Egypt, India, Indonesia, and Malaysia.
This strategic partnership aims to leverage LuLu’s extensive retail network to boost the international presence of Indian organic products.