In Moscow, a grand reception awaited Dr. Rajaram Tripathi; talks centered on the expansion of India's herbal trade with Russia.
In a significant move aimed at strengthening India-Russia cooperation, Dr. Rajaram Tripathi, a member of the National Medicinal Plants Board, recently participated in a "Meet & Greet" event in Moscow. The gathering was jointly organized by the Indian Business Alliance (IBA), the Indian National Cultural Centre 'SITA', and 'our website'.
Dr. Tripathi's mission was to address the barriers hindering medicinal and health collaboration between the two countries, particularly the unofficial blacklist that acts as a significant barrier to imports of Indian herbs and spices. One of the primary focuses of discussion was the inclusion of around 70 vital Indian herbs, including Ashwagandha, on Russia's 'Negative List'.
Ashwagandha, a popular Indian medicinal herb, currently faces restrictions in Russia's market due to a lack of recognized safety and efficacy data or regulatory approval under Russian regulations. This has virtually no market presence in Russia.
Dr. Tripathi is actively working to remove these barriers by vowing to get those 70 Indian herbs, including Ashwagandha, removed from Russia's negative list. His efforts aim to facilitate the trade and acceptance of Indian herbal products in Russia by addressing regulatory gaps and advocating for their acceptance under Russian standards.
The success of the event was credited to the leadership of IBA President Sami Manoj Kotwani and M.C. Dominic, founder of 'our website'. The gathering brought together successful entrepreneurs, doctors, farmers, and experts from Russia's industrial, trade, and agricultural sectors.
The event underscored the importance of strengthening India-Russia trade and cultural ties in the herbal sector. The strong demand in Russia for Indian spices, superfoods, millets, and aromatic products was highlighted, along with the potential for increased cooperation in agriculture, health, and trade.
Dr. Tripathi also announced plans to revisit Russia soon to engage directly with farmers in both countries and promote exchange of traditional and modern farming practices. The US 25% tariff on Indian goods is driving India to consider Russia as a key alternative export destination.
IBA President Manoj Kotwani concluded the event, stating, "This program marks a significant opportunity to elevate India-Russia cooperation in agriculture, health, and trade." The Moscow "Meet & Greet" is widely regarded as a vital stride towards strengthening the global footprint of India's herbal industry.
The total world herbal trade is assessed at USD 120 billion, but the specific details about India's share in the global export of herbs were not provided in the given paragraph. However, it is clear that efforts such as Dr. Tripathi's mission are crucial in expanding India's presence in the global herbal trade, particularly in markets like Russia.
In the context of strengthening India-Russia cooperation, Dr. Tripathi's mission is not only focused on medicinal collaboration but also extends to the removal of 70 Indian herbs, including Ashwagandha, from Russia's negative list. This action is aimed at facilitating the trade and acceptance of Indian herbal products in Russia's market, coinciding with the drive towards increasing India's share in the $120 billion global herbal trade, particularly in markets like Russia. This effort aligns with the business and finance sectors, as well as the health-and-wellness industry, as India seeks alternative export destinations due to the US 25% tariff on Indian goods.
