The Forum of Indian Food Importers (FIFI) participated as a key collaborator and industry contributor in the high-level Chile–India Economic Partnership gathering convened during the official visit of His Excellency Francisco Pérez Mackenna, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Chile, to India.
The closed-door strategic roundtable brought together senior government representatives, industry leaders, and trade stakeholders from both countries to accelerate discussions surrounding the proposed Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), while exploring long-term opportunities in agrifood trade, logistics, sustainability, and industrial cooperation.
The distinguished Chilean delegation reflected the growing importance Chile places on India as a strategic economic partner and included H.E. Juan Angulo, Ambassador of Chile to India; Diego Torres, International Director, Federation of Chilean Industries (SOFOFA); Iván Marambio, President, Fruits from Chile; Rodrigo Bustos, Asia Director, Aqua Chile; Alfonso Undurraga, President, Wines of Chile; Juan Manuel Mira, President, Chile Alimentos; and Javier Montes, Sales Director Asia, MENA & Oceania, CMPC.
The roundtable discussion was followed by a wider industry interaction attended by eminent Indian leadership, including Mr Rajesh Agrawal, Secretary of Commerce, Government of India, and Mr Rajit Punhani, CEO, FSSAI, among other senior policymakers and industry stakeholders. The interaction further reinforced the growing commitment from both countries toward strengthening bilateral trade and regulatory cooperation.
FIFI representatives contributed practical insights on crucial topics like agrifood business, cold chain logistics, demand channels, premium consumption trends, and market access opportunities between the two nations. The organization welcomed the ongoing CEPA discussions as an important milestone toward building a resilient, future-oriented economic partnership between India and Chile.
Speaking during the interaction, Amit Lohani, Founder Director of FIFI, highlighted the transformative potential of the India–Chile partnership. “With over three decades of experience in bilateral trade corridors, I firmly believe the India–Chile partnership is entering a definitive phase. Chile offers world-class products that align strongly with the evolving preferences of Indian consumers and the premium hospitality sector. CEPA can become a major catalyst for accelerating bilateral growth,” said Mr. Lohani. He was further noted, “The foundation stone for this partnership was laid a few years back, and we are delighted to see its evolution in a positive direction.”
The timing of the discussions comes at a significant moment for bilateral trade relations. India and Chile are currently advancing negotiations on a CEPA, aimed at deepening trade integration and reducing barriers across sectors.
Highlighting the importance of logistics integration and infrastructure cooperation, Siddhaarth Suri, Director of Suri Agro Fresh Pvt. Ltd., stressed that improving cold-chain connectivity and streamlining trade frameworks would unlock substantial growth opportunities for both nations.
Rekha Gupta, Co-Founder of Polar Quality India Pvt. Ltd., highlighted the growing appetite for premium seafood and salmon products in India’s HORECA sector. She was quoted as saying, “India’s premium hospitality segment is witnessing a remarkable evolution in consumer preferences, especially for high-quality imported seafood. Greater trade facilitation and smoother import mechanisms can significantly enhance market penetration and strengthen supply consistency.”
The discussions also benefited from the participation and expertise of senior Indian industry stakeholders, including Mr Rakesh Banga, Mr Pankaj Singhal, Mr Uday Chugh, and others. FIFI reiterated its commitment to supporting constructive trade dialogue and policy advocacy that strengthens India’s food ecosystem while expanding opportunities for global partners such as Chile.
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