Boost for agri-exports as CM Vishnu Deo Sai's efforts bear fruit; Chhattisgarh to emerge as an export hub

In a major boost to Chhattisgarh’s agriculture and export ecosystem, the state is set to host a regional office of the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) in Raipur.

The decision follows sustained efforts by Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai and the state’s Department of Industries, with the Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry approving the proposal.

The new APEDA office is expected to transform the export landscape for farmers, producers, and exporters by offering a range of services—including training, certification, packaging, standardisation, and export facilitation—within the state itself. Until now, stakeholders in Chhattisgarh had to rely on offices located in other states for these processes.

Global-quality services now at local level

With the establishment of the regional office, key export procedures such as phytosanitary certification, lab testing, quality certification, and documentation will be handled locally. This will significantly save time and cut costs for agri-exporters, while improving compliance with international standards.

Branding boost and global visibility for Chhattisgarh products

The office will simplify the export of fruits, vegetables, rice, GI-tagged products, millets, and other agricultural commodities, enabling direct access to international markets. This will help producers command better prices and allow Chhattisgarh’s diverse agri-products to gain broader global visibility.

Doubling farmer income through knowledge and better prices

The presence of APEDA in Raipur is also set to empower farmers through capacity building. Local training on international standards, advanced packaging, quality control, and global marketing techniques will be made easily accessible—helping farmers achieve higher returns on their produce and move closer to the goal of income doubling.

Push for export infrastructure

In addition to certification and promotional support, APEDA also backs the creation and maintenance of export infrastructure such as food processing units, cold storages, and pack houses. This is expected to give a major push to the state’s agribusiness sector by enhancing its capacity and competitiveness.

Access to special schemes and subsidies

Farmers, startups, and MSMEs in Chhattisgarh will now be better positioned to tap into APEDA’s export promotion schemes, skill development programmes, and financial subsidies. Local access to these opportunities will enable a broader base of stakeholders to participate in export-linked growth.

Expressing his happiness over the development, Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai said this new APEDA office would serve as a powerful bridge between Chhattisgarh’s agri producers and the global market. He called it a decisive step not just in boosting agri-exports, but in driving economic prosperity for the state. “This achievement will make Chhattisgarh a leading state in the 'Vocal for Local to Global' campaign and open new doors for the export of our rich and diverse agri-products,” the Chief Minister added.