AYUSHEXCIL, Spices Board sign pact to boost Ayush exports
New Delhi, May 25
AYUSHEXCIL and the Spices Board of India on Monday signed a Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen India's global leadership in traditional wellness and natural products.
The collaboration aims to promote global cooperation in Ayush products and medicinal spices by strengthening export promotion, quality assurance, standardisation, research, innovation, and international market development for functional foods, nutraceuticals, herbal extracts, and value-added Ayurvedic and spice-based products, according to an official statement.
Under the partnership, both organisations will work together on branding initiatives, traceability frameworks, scientific validation, capacity building, Codex engagement, and joint participation in international trade fairs and promotional activities.
The initiative is expected to create new opportunities for exporters, farmers, MSMEs, startups, women entrepreneurs, and stakeholders across the Ayush and spices sectors, thereby enhancing India's export growth and global visibility in the wellness economy, the statement said.
The MoU was signed by Dr Anurag Sharma, Chairman, AYUSHEXCIL, and M. S. Manivannan, Secretary, Spices Board of India, in the presence of Union Minister of State for Ayush Prataprao Jadhav.
The minister described the agreement between AYUSHEXCIL and the Spices Board of India as a "visionary and forward-looking partnership".
Highlighting India's rich heritage, Jadhav noted that Ayurveda and Indian spices have for centuries symbolised preventive healthcare, balanced living, and natural wellness knowledge.
He expressed satisfaction with the collaboration's focus on critical areas such as quality enhancement, traceability, scientific validation, innovation, export promotion, and the development of international markets.
He also highlighted the proposed "Spice and Heal" initiative, noting that it could become a powerful branding campaign positioning India as a global leader in holistic health and natural healing solutions.
Emphasising the government's commitment to empowering MSMEs, startups, women entrepreneurs, farmers, and young innovators, the minister said the initiative aligns closely with the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for Atmanirbhar Bharat, Vocal for Local, Make in India, and Heal in India.
He added that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has consistently recognised India's traditional knowledge systems and wellness heritage as important pillars of the country's global identity and economic progress.
The minister expressed confidence in the partnership's long-term impact, saying the MoU would open new avenues for export growth, employment generation, rural development, farmer empowerment, and international collaboration.
— IANS
Reader Comments
As someone from Kerala, I'm really happy to see this. Our spices are world-class but we need better branding abroad. The "Spice and Heal" campaign sounds promising - hope it gets proper budget and execution. Also good to see women entrepreneurs mentioned - my aunty runs a small ayurvedic product business and this could help her expand.
Good initiative but let's be practical - we've seen many such MoUs before. The real challenge is implementation. Will there be proper scientific validation? Will our farmers get fair prices? And how will this help MSMEs? Hope it's not just another photo op. Would like to see concrete targets and timelines.
Excellent move! Ayurveda and spices are our soft power. The global wellness market is booming and we should leverage our heritage. But we need to be careful about patenting our traditional knowledge - should learn from the neem and turmeric patent battles. Also need to ensure traceability from farm to export.
As a healthcare professional, I'm cautiously optimistic. Ayurveda has immense potential but we need evidence-based approach. Scientific validation of our traditional remedies is crucial for international acceptance. Also glad to see focus on Codex - that means our products can meet global food safety standards. Let's hope this translates to real market access.
Interesting development. As someone who uses Indian spices regularly, I appreciate efforts to ensure quality and traceability. The global demand for functional foods and nutraceuticals is growing rapidly. If India can combine traditional wisdom with modern quality standards, this could be a game changer. Hope they also focus on organic certification.