India offers good opportunities for exporters, but quality has to be high on the agenda, an importer has warned.

Amrish Karvat, chairman of the Yuppa Group, told delegates to the Fresh 2005 conference in Hungary there was a misconception that India was a poor country.

"Because of the high import duties, imported produce is more expensive and only bought by the wealthy people. Thereford, if fruit is of poor quality it is not going to sell."

He said there is a growing level of consumerism in India and a real fascination for imported produce. "However, it needs to be at a realistic price, and those looking to trade with India must be committed to the long term."

Ravi Deol, president and ceo of FieldFresh Foods, said on the export front India was set to become a major player.

"Most of agriculture production remains fairly primitive and labour intensive and the distribution network is non-existent, but India is the future."

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