The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) on Monday, 20 July facilitated the first-ever shipment of frozen French fries from Uttarakhand to Iraq, marking a milestone in India's value-added agricultural export drive. The development signals growing international appetite for Indian processed potato products and broadens the hill state's participation in the country's expanding food export portfolio.

Details of the Inaugural Shipment

The inaugural consignment comprised 24 metric tonnes (MT) of frozen French fries, exported by Virun Global Trade Private Limited, based in Kashipur, Udham Singh Nagar district. According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the shipment was dispatched directly to Iraq, opening a new trade corridor for Uttarakhand's food processing sector.

The exporter expressed confidence that the quality of the consignment would help secure repeat orders and foster sustained business relationships in overseas markets — a prospect that could benefit both the company and the wider region.

APEDA's Role in Market Development

APEDA has been instrumental in building the exporter's global reach, supporting participation in major international trade exhibitions including SIAL, Gulfood, IndusFood, and World Food India. These platforms have helped connect Uttarakhand-based processors with international buyers, laying the groundwork for this breakthrough shipment.

APEDA Chairman Abhishek Dev acknowledged that logistics costs remain a structural challenge for exporters operating from landlocked states. 'APEDA is working closely with the Government of Uttarakhand on the formulation and implementation of the State Agri Export Policy, including provisions for transport assistance to improve export competitiveness and facilitate greater market access for exporters,' he said.

India's Processed Food Export Performance

The shipment comes against a backdrop of robust growth in India's processed agricultural exports. During 2025-26, the country's exports of processed vegetables stood at 7,26,874.70 MT, valued at $932.25 million. Value-added potato products alone accounted for exports of 2,77,108.51 MT worth $289.40 million during the fiscal year, while processed fruits and vegetables together contributed nearly 10 per cent of APEDA's total scheduled exports.

What This Means for Uttarakhand

Uttarakhand has historically faced export competitiveness challenges owing to its landlocked geography and higher freight costs compared to coastal states. This first shipment, backed by APEDA's institutional support and a forthcoming State Agri Export Policy, could serve as a template for scaling up processed food exports from other hill states. Notably, the Kashipur belt in Udham Singh Nagar has emerged as a food processing hub, and this export marks its entry into the Middle East market.

With Iraq as the destination, India is also deepening trade ties with the Middle East — a region that has become an increasingly important market for Indian agricultural commodities. Whether this first shipment translates into a durable export corridor will depend on price competitiveness, logistics support, and the speed of policy implementation in Uttarakhand.