MUMBAI, INDIA - An interactive session with the delegates of Poland was jointly organized by World Trade Centre (WTC) Mumbai and All India Association of Industries at WTC Mumbai on September 21, 2016. Mr. Mahadev Jankar, Hon’ble Minister of Animal Husbandry, Dairy Development and Fisheries Department, Government of Maharashtra said, “Maharashtra’s per day milk production rose from 80,000 litres to 7.5 lakh litres providing an alternate livelihood for farmers making it a potential sector for further development. India is the highest milk producing country in the world employing 8.5 million workers. I invite the Polish government to consider investments and exchange of technology know-how in this sector.”

The Minister said, “We intend equipping each farmer with five cattle, 10 goats, a small poultry and a fish pond aiming to provide an alternative financial means of livelihood. In keeping with the ease of doing business, our department will launch one window system to bring speedy clearances of proposals and transparency”.

Mr. Jaroslaw Olowski, Deputy President of Agricultural Market Agency, Poland said, “We have expertise to handle 95 percent of food processing requirements while India only handles 10%, which holds scope for Polish collaboration. We supply one crore apples every year to India, while India can consider increasing mango exports”, He further added, We are here to understand the Indian markets, distribution channels, products and policies of India.

Mr. Olowski said, “Poland is number one in poultry, number two in milk, number three in beef, number four in pork, number five in fruit, number six in vegetables and number seven in honey employing cutting-edge technology, high capacity, high efficiency which can cater to Indian tastes.

H.E. Tomasz Lubaszuk, Ambassador of the Republic of Poland said that Poland looks to augment ties with India especially in agriculture and food processing sectors.

Mr. Vijay Kalantri, Vice Chairman, WTC Mumbai said, “India’s bilateral trade with Poland has grown almost 7 fold over the last 10 years and India has invested US$ 3 billion in Poland. He raised concerns that 40 per cent of agri-products perish before reaching the markets. Polish expertise can develop food processing and warehousing technologies. He further added that the farmer does not get his due share in the agriculture revenue, therefore a proper chain wherein farmers, agriculturalist and horticulturists are equally benefitted doing away with the middlemen si required.

Capt. Somesh Batra, Vice Chairman, WTC Mumbai said, “Poland had grown since it acquired democratic status especially in the agriculture sector. 47 per cent of the land is utilized for agriculture and 30 per cent is under forest cover. The other sectors where India could look for collaborations are in tourism, mining, defence, chemicals, rubber, plastic, heavy machinery, readymade cotton garments, iron & steel etc.

In Photo: Mr. Mr. Jaroslaw Olowski (left) shaking hands with Mr. Mahadev Jankar (Centre). Looking on is Mr. Vijay Kalantri.

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