Varanasi biscuit export to Oman: First shipment under India-Oman CEPA
Synopsis
A 40 MT biscuit shipment from Varanasi to Oman — the first of its kind under the India-Oman CEPA — signals that the trade pact is beginning to open real doors for UP's processed food exporters. With APEDA planning more shipments and backing trade fair participation, this could be the start of a sustained Gulf market push from an unlikely agri-export hub.
Key Takeaways
Varanasi has dispatched its first biscuit export consignment of 40 metric tonnes to Oman on 25 June 2026 .
The shipment is the first under the India-Oman Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) .
Exporter: Shree Tirupati Balajee Industries Pvt Ltd , a Varanasi-based manufacturer-exporter.
APEDA , under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, facilitated the consignment.
The cargo routes through ICD Kanpur for customs clearance before shipping from JNPT .
Additional shipments to Oman are planned in the coming months, according to APEDA .
Varanasi has dispatched its first export consignment of biscuits to Oman — a 40 metric tonne (MT) shipment that marks a tangible early outcome of the India-Oman Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), operating under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, facilitated the consignment, which was announced on 25 June 2026.
The Shipment and Its Route
The consignment has been executed by Shree Tirupati Balajee Industries Pvt Ltd, a manufacturer-exporter based in Varanasi. The cargo will travel from Varanasi to the Inland Container Depot (ICD), Kanpur, for customs clearance, before being transported to Jawaharlal Nehru Port (JNPT) for onward shipment to Oman.
What the Government Said
The Commerce Ministry, in an official statement, described the dispatch as a milestone for the region's processed food sector. 'The shipment marks the first export consignment of biscuits from Varanasi to Oman following the signing of the India-Oman CEPA, highlighting the growing export potential of processed food products from the region,' the ministry stated. It added that the initiative underscores APEDA's continued efforts to develop emerging agri-export hubs across the country.
Significance Under the India-Oman CEPA
The export assumes added weight in the context of strengthening trade ties between India and Oman under the CEPA framework. The agreement is expected to facilitate greater market access and open new avenues for Indian exporters, particularly in the agricultural and processed food sectors. This first biscuit shipment from Uttar Pradesh is being positioned as a model for integrating the state's processed food industry with international markets.
More Shipments Planned
APEDA has indicated that additional shipments to the Oman market are planned in the coming months, reflecting what officials describe as growing demand for processed food products from the region. The authority has also been supporting the exporter through trade promotion activities, including participation in AAHAR 2026 and Gulfood 2026 — two major food and beverage trade platforms.
The development signals a broader push to position Varanasi and the wider Uttar Pradesh belt as competitive sources for value-added food exports, with the CEPA providing a preferential trade runway into the Gulf market.
Point of View
But its symbolic weight under the India-Oman CEPA is real. The more consequential question is whether APEDA's hub-development model — trade fair support, logistics facilitation, market linkage — can be replicated at scale across UP's processed food belt, which has long struggled to convert manufacturing capacity into export revenue. Oman is a relatively small Gulf market; the real prize is Saudi Arabia and the UAE, where CEPA frameworks are either in place or under negotiation. If Varanasi can establish a credible export track record here, it strengthens the case for preferential access in larger markets. The risk is that one-off facilitated shipments generate press releases without building self-sustaining export pipelines.
NationPress
25 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the India-Oman CEPA and why does it matter for this export?
The India-Oman Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) is a bilateral trade pact designed to enhance market access and reduce trade barriers between the two countries. This biscuit shipment from Varanasi is the first export consignment of its kind under the CEPA, making it an early test case of the agreement's benefits for India's processed food sector.
Who facilitated and executed the Varanasi biscuit export to Oman?
APEDA, under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, facilitated the export. The consignment was executed by Shree Tirupati Balajee Industries Pvt Ltd, a manufacturer-exporter based in Varanasi.
What is the route for this export shipment?
The 40 MT consignment will travel from Varanasi to the Inland Container Depot (ICD) in Kanpur for customs clearance, and then be transported to Jawaharlal Nehru Port (JNPT) for onward shipment to Oman.
Will more such shipments follow?
Yes. APEDA has indicated that a series of additional shipments to Oman are planned in the coming months, citing growing demand for processed food products from the region. The authority is also supporting exporters through participation in trade events such as AAHAR 2026 and Gulfood 2026.
Why is Varanasi significant as an export hub for processed food?
Varanasi is being developed as an emerging agri-export hub under APEDA's regional promotion initiatives. This shipment is positioned as a step towards integrating Uttar Pradesh's processed food sector with international markets and expanding the global reach of value-added food products from the state.
