The Indian Sugar & Bio-Energy Manufacturers Association (ISMA) participated in the 9th edition of IndusFood, India’s leading agri and food & beverage trade fair. The event was organised by the Trade Promotion Council of India with support from the Department of Commerce, Government of India.
During the event, ISMA took part in a special session with a delegation from Fiji. The delegation included Tomasi Tunabuna, Fiji’s Minister of Agriculture and Waterways, and Charan Jeath Singh, Minister for Multi-Ethnic Affairs and Sugar Industry, along with senior officials from the governments of India and Fiji.
ISMA Director General Deepak Ballani delivered a special address highlighting how India’s sugar sector has evolved from a traditional industry into a diversified sugar and bioenergy ecosystem. He spoke about the sector’s role in supporting the livelihoods of nearly 55 million farmers and their families, contributing to climate action, and strengthening India’s energy security through initiatives such as ethanol blending, expansion of bioenergy, and circular bioeconomy solutions.
The interaction underlined the shared interest of India and Fiji in deepening cooperation between industries and governments. Both sides expressed their intent to explore partnerships in the areas of sugar, agriculture, and bioenergy, opening new opportunities for collaboration between the two countries.
