Bahrain food imports from India at $ 18.73 mn

Dubai, Jan 30: The Kingdom of Bahrain imported food worth .73 million from India in 2005-06 while its non-oil import from the latter totalled 157.56 million dollars, latest figures have revealed.

Other goods imported by Bahrain were mainly textiles and readymade articles, including confectionery items and meat, according to figures released ahead of the four-day Gulfood 2007, one of the biggest food and hospitality trade shows in the world opening here on Febuary 19.

The show is expected to witness India's largest ever representation at an international food show in the Gulf, officials said, who indicated that exports from Bahrain to India had remained stagnant in the last few years but were expected to grow in the years to come.

Overall, food exports to the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) costed an estimated three billion dollar a year, with agricultural and processed food exports from India to the UAE alone accounting for more than 273 million dollars.

Total annual trade between India and the GCC currently exceeds 15 billion dollars, representing 15 per cent of India's total foreign trade.

India exported agro products to West Asian market in the year 2005-06 to the extent of 1,325 million dollars out of its total export turnover of 3,977 million dollars, which is 33 per cent of India's exports.

UNI