The Hindu : Business : Italian food cos. show keen interest

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Tuesday, Nov 18, 2008
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Italian food cos. show keen interest

Special Correspondent

Conclude a series of road shows to gauge domestic market

— FILE PHOTO

India interest: A vineyard in Italy’s Tuscany region.

BANGALORE: Faced with higher production and fall in exports to countries like the U.S., Italian agro-food producers are keen on Asian markets such as India.

Opera, a consortium of Italian food companies and agricultural cooperatives, has concluded a series of road shows with one here on Monday. Italian wine, cheese, olive oil and cold meats were on display.

Consortium’s Chief Executive Officer Paolo Annavini told reporters here that the initial trade might be through large Indian importers, already familiar with articles from Europe.

Tasting sessions

The road shows that included tasting sessions were to gauge the market, expected to be large and growing. Some items like olive oil were already on supermarket shelves in India.

A consortium partner and exporter, Augusto Renello, said, “Italian farmers are already exploring new markets; last year 300 reefer containers of kiwi fruit were exported to Australia. We are in talk with the Reliance Fresh chain to sell fresh and preserved fruit and to work out the logistics.”

The Khoday group was discussing import of Italian wine.

Exports

Italy exported $20 million worth wine last year to China, a new market. Italian wine production grew by 5 per cent to 44.5 million hectolitres this year. Wine exports to the U.S. fell by 5.6 per cent in volume.

Northern Italy produces more dairy products and meat and the southern part, fruits, olive oil and wine.

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