New Delhi: The Department of Commerce has clarified that its support to the upcoming Bharat International Rice Conference (BIRC) 2025 is purely non-financial and limited to coordination with other government departments, denying any role in the organizational or financial affairs of the private body hosting the event.
In a statement issued on Monday, the Department said that India, being the largest exporter and one of the biggest producers of rice in the world, has been engaging with all stakeholders in the sector to promote participatory decision-making and trade growth. India’s rice exports during 2024–25 stood at US$ 12.95 billion, underlining the crop’s crucial role in the country’s agricultural export portfolio.
The Bharat International Rice Conference 2025, scheduled to be held at Bharat Mandapam, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, on October 30–31, is being organized by the Indian Rice Exporters’ Federation (IREF), a private trade body comprising rice exporters and stakeholders from across the value chain.
The Department of Commerce emphasized that it has no role in the appointment of members or office-bearers of IREF, including its president. “The Department’s involvement is limited to extending non-financial support and facilitating the participation of relevant ministries and departments through the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA),” the statement said.
APEDA, which promotes India’s agricultural and processed food exports, is assisting the event by coordinating participation from various line ministries to ensure holistic and coordinated policy discussions on expanding rice exports.
The Department further clarified that all expenses for the event, including logistics, venue arrangements, buyer-hosting costs, exhibitions, technical sessions, and creative materials, are being borne entirely by IREF and its co-partners through their own resources or private sponsorships.
Other key associations—The Rice Exporters Association, Chhattisgarh (TREA-CG) and The Rice Exporters Association (TREA), Kakinada—are also co-partnering in organizing the event, which aims to bring together domestic exporters, international buyers, and policymakers for structured dialogues on trade promotion.
Addressing recent media reports alleging irregularities involving the IREF and its national president, the Department said it cannot comment on matters pertaining to a private organization or its members, terming it an internal issue outside the purview of government oversight.
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