India Ships First 40 MT Biscuit Consignment To Oman From Varanasi
India has exported its first consignment of 40 metric tonnes (MT) of biscuits manufactured in Varanasi to Oman under the India-Oman Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), with the government expecting the trade pact to create fresh opportunities for the country's food processing industry in the Gulf region.Announcing the development on X, Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said the shipment marks the first export of Varanasi-made biscuits to Oman under the bilateral trade agreement.
"For the first time, 40MT of biscuits manufactured in Varanasi have been exported to Oman under the India-Oman CEPA, advancing PM Narendra Modi ji's vision of taking 'Made In India' products to the world," Goyal said.
The minister also announced that an agreement has been signed to scale up exports to the region.
"An MoU has also been signed for the supply of nearly 700 MT of biscuits to Oman and other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries during FY 2026–27," he said.
According to Goyal, the India-Oman CEPA has enabled Indian biscuit manufacturers to access the Omani market without import duties, improving their competitiveness against rival suppliers.
"Preferential tariff benefits available under CEPA have allowed duty-free access for biscuits produced in India, making them more price-competitive in comparison to other key competitors in the Oman market," he said.
The tariff concessions are expected to strengthen India's presence in the Gulf's packaged food market by encouraging larger shipments and repeat purchases from buyers.
"This is expected to translate into higher export volumes and repeat orders from importers in the region," Goyal said.
He added that rising overseas demand for Indian biscuits would support domestic manufacturing and employment. "Clearly a big boost to our food processing sector with increased production and job generation," the minister added.
The India-Oman CEPA, which grants preferential market access for a range of goods traded between the two countries, has emerged as a key driver of India's processed food exports by improving price competitiveness in overseas markets. The latest shipment from Varanasi reflects the government's broader push to expand exports of value-added food products under the 'Made in India' initiative.
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