Senior figures from the Scottish food and drink industry are attending a trade mission to India to grow exports and explore business opportunities.
It is the first trade mission for the Scottish food and drink sector to India, and has involved visiting retail and hospitality influencers in Mumbai and New Delhi.
Delegates include Crawford Gillies, chairman of Scottish Enterprise, and chief executive of Scotland Food and Drink James Withers. It is led by Scottish Development International.
Also in attendance are Alec Cruickshank, owner of The Scottish Deli and Ronnie Wilson, commercial director of Mackies of Taypack Crisps.
The trip follows a visit to Scotland by Indian buyers and retailers in September 2013.
Gillies said Scottish food and drink exports to India increased by almost 90 per cent between 2007 and 2012, and are now worth more than £62 million.
He said: “This week’s visit is about introducing senior figures from the Scottish food and drink industry to explore these opportunities in more detail and identify potential partnerships with their Indian counterparts.
“Changing tastes and rising incomes in India means there is increasing demand for gourmet products, while the emergence of a more modern retail sector is creating new outlets for international companies to reach discerning consumers.”
Withers said: “The learning journey to India is an excellent opportunity to demonstrate why Scotland has garnered a reputation as the land of food and drink by introducing the country’s finest produce to some of India’s biggest retailers and hospitality brands.
He added: “Our aim is to grow the food and drink industry in Scotland to £16.5 billion by 2017, and increasing sales in key international markets, such as India, is pivotal to achieving this goal.”
The food and drink industry is worth over £13 billion a year to the Scottish economy, and currently accounts for 20 per cent of all exports.
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