APEDA and Lulu Hypermarket MoU to promote Indian agri-products

The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), Ministry of Commerce, Government of India, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with global retail giant Lulu Hypermarket LLC. It intends to increase agricultural product exports to the Gulf Cooperation Countries (GCCs). 

Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) Between APEDA 

• The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by APEDA Chairman Shri Abhishek Dev and Mr Yusuf Ali MA, Chairman-cum-Managing Director of LuLu Group.
• It was signed on November 3, 2023, in New Delhi, during the World India Food (WIF) 2023. 
• The agreement aims to promote Brand India internationally. 
• APEDA would market Indian agricultural goods throughout the GCC, as the LuLu Group International (LLC) has a presence in the GCC, Egypt, India, and the Far East, with 247 LuLu outlets and 24 shopping complexes. 
• The MoU would enhance promotional operations for APEDA's planned items with the retail chain LuLu Hypermarket. 

International Year of Millets (IYoM)

• The United Nations has declared 2023 to be the "International Year of Millets." The Indian government proposed this. 
• APEDA is promoting IYoM 2023 by conducting export promotion events for millets at 16 International Trade Fairs, including Gulfood 2023, where the agreement was signed. 

About APEDA

• The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) is part of the Ministry of Commerce and Industries.
• It encourages the export of agricultural and processed food from India.
• The Processed Food Export Promotion Council (PFEPC) is the organisation which was replaced by APEDA.
•  The Government of India founded APEDA in 1985 under the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority Act.
• The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority Act, approved by Parliament in 1985, created it as a statutory entity.
• Head Office: New Delhi

About Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) 

• The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is a grouping of six Gulf countries. The countries are Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, and Bahrain. 
• The council is India's largest commercial bloc.
• The GCC was created in 1981 by an agreement signed in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, between Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

LULU Group

• Lulu Group is a multinational retail hypermarket corporation which essentially operates like a supermarket.
• The LuLu Group is the Middle East and Asia's fastest expanding retail chain.
• It is a multinational corporation with over 232 shops in the GCC alone. 
• Headquarters-Abu Dhabi, UAE.