Dubai Flower Centre gears up for Indian floriculture market

19 Oct 2006

Mumbai: Dubai Flower Centre (DFC), the trans-shipment facility for perishable goods in the region, is all set to tap the growing Indian flower export market, which is expected to exceed $1 billion by 2010. DFC plans to act as a hub for Indian growers and traders so that they can reach out to regional and Western markets.

"Geographical location and superior infrastructure are two major factors that will favour Indian exporters if they decide to use the 1,80,000-tonnes per annum capacity DFC, which went operational in July this year," said Ibrahim Ahli, marketing director, D FC.

"Our main purpose is to ensure that floriculture industry in India is fully supported by DFC through its facilities, which can be utilised for imports and exports of perishable products," he said in a statement.

By setting up operations in the DFC, farmers from India''s major floriculture and horticulture areas can take advantage of Dubai''s connectivity to global markets through more than 117 airlines operating from the Dubai international airport, Ahli said.

Currently India produces 2,00,000 tonnes of loose flowers and 500 million tonnes of cut flowers, according to figures provided by the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA).

A DFC delegation had been to India recently. The delegation met officials and flower growers and exporters and held discussions with them.