PHDCCI organises “Bharat Spices Conclave 2026” – Outlines Roadmap for Doubling India’s Spice Economy

New Delhi, April 17, 2026: PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI), in association with CATCH, successfully organised the “Bharat Spices Conclave 2026 - Roadmap for Doubling India’s Spice Economy” at PHD House, New Delhi on Friday.
The conclave brought together key stakeholders from government and industry to engage in focused deliberations on policy, trade, and innovation required to strengthen India’s spice sector and expand its global footprint.
Addressing the gathering, Chief Guest Chirag Paswan, Minister for Food Processing Industries, Government of India, underscored the historical importance of spices in India’s trade legacy and highlighted the vast untapped potential of the sector beyond traditional culinary use.
He emphasized that India must now transition from a volume-driven approach to a value-driven ecosystem, leveraging food processing, innovation, and global market integration. The Hon’ble Minister reiterated the Government’s commitment towards enabling ease of doing business through continuous reforms and policy support, and invited industry stakeholders to actively contribute recommendations for sectoral growth.
Highlighting key initiatives, he noted that 100% FDI in food processing and schemes such as PMFME are aimed at strengthening the value chain and promoting entrepreneurship. He further stressed the need for enhanced focus on quality standards, stating that consistent quality is critical to building global trust and avoiding export rejections. He also pointed to emerging opportunities in nutraceuticals, wellness products, and value-added spice segments, calling for increased investment in research, innovation, and technology. He reiterated the Government’s vision of positioning India as a “global food basket” and emphasized the significant role of the spice sector in achieving the goal of Viksit Bharat 2047.
Speaking on the occasion, Anil Rajput, Chair, Food Processing Committee, PHDCCI, highlighted that India produces over 60 out of 109 globally recognized spices and exports to more than 200 countries. He emphasized the need to reposition spices as high-value products and strategic assets driving farmer income, MSME growth, and global brand India. He outlined key priorities for the sector including strengthening farmer integration in value chains, promoting innovation and R&D, ensuring sustainability through residue-free and organic production, and fostering stronger public-private collaboration. Mr. Rajput further noted that rising global demand for health, wellness, and natural products presents a significant opportunity for Indian spices, particularly in nutraceuticals and functional food segments.
J D Desai, Co-Chair, Food Processing Committee, PHDCCI, stated that “The Bharat Spices Conclave” is playing an important role in our mission to integrate our nation’s heritage with an innovative future-oriented food processing industry. By emphasizing innovation, sustainability and capacity building of our farming communities and MSMEs, we will not only export products but also make Indian spices synonymous with excellence across the world. The Bharat Spices Conclave has effectively converted collective dreams into reality ensuring the Indian spice sector remains a powerful pillar of India’s global economic identity.
During his address Dr. Ranjeet Mehta, CEO & Secretary General, PHDCCI, emphasized that while India has strong fundamentals in terms of scale, heritage, and production, the focus must now shift towards building global brands, enhancing quality systems, and creating a strong international narrative for Indian spices. He remarked that the conclave aims to serve as a platform to align industry, government, and stakeholders towards a shared vision of making India a global leader in the spice economy.
Dr. Jatinder Singh, Deputy Secretary General, PHDCCI, who moderated the session, underscored the importance of such platforms in fostering meaningful dialogue between government and industry. He noted that the deliberations would help set the direction for future engagements and contribute to shaping a progressive roadmap for India’s spice sector.
The conclave featured deliberations on key themes including strengthening the spice value chain, exploring export opportunities, promoting innovation and sustainability, and developing a strategic roadmap for doubling India’s spice economy. The event witnessed active participation from industry representatives, policymakers, and experts, fostering meaningful discussions on the future growth trajectory of the sector.
The event was supported by the Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) and Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, partnered by Catch, with association support from All India Food Processors’ Association, Biological Agri Solutions Association of India (BASAI) and Federation of Indian Spice Stakeholder