In a bid to boost Bihar’s footprint on the global agri-export map, Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Thursday inaugurated the state’s first regional office of the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA).
The inauguration took place during the Bihar Idea Festival in Patna, in the presence of Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary, Industries Minister Nitish Mishra, senior state officials, APEDA leadership, entrepreneurs, FPOs and farmer groups.
The new office is expected to transform Bihar’s agri-export landscape by offering direct access to APEDA’s services – including exporter registration, advisory support, market intelligence, certification assistance, and infrastructure development. Until now, exporters from Bihar relied on APEDA’s regional office in Varanasi, often facing delays in accessing key services.
Speaking at the event, Piyush Goyal called the opening of the Patna office a “mission to integrate Bihar’s farmers with the global economy.” He added, “Our farmers, entrepreneurs, and exporters have the potential to feed the world. With the right support, Bihar will emerge as a leader in high-value, sustainable agri-exports.”
Deputy CM Samrat Chaudhary welcomed the opening of the Patna office and reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to creating an enabling environment for farmers and exporters. “This marks a new chapter in Bihar’s agricultural growth story,” he said.
The ceremony also saw a significant milestone – the flagging off of a 7-metric-ton consignment of GI-tagged Mithila Makhana to New Zealand, Canada, and the USA. The shipment was executed by Neha Arya, a woman entrepreneur from Darbhanga and founder of Nehashi, highlighting APEDA’s efforts to encourage women-led businesses and inclusive growth in agri-trade.
Bihar is home to several GI-tagged products, including Shahi Litchi, Jardalu Mango, Mithila Makhana, and Magahi Pan, alongside a diverse range of fruits, vegetables, and grains. These products hold strong appeal in international markets. In recent years, Bihar has successfully exported Jardalu Mangoes, Mithila Makhana, and traditional sweets like Tilkut to destinations including the UAE, USA, and other countries.
Over the past three years, APEDA has strengthened Bihar’s agri-export ecosystem through extensive capacity-building programs, training farmers and exporters on global quality standards, packaging, logistics, and compliance protocols. International buyer-seller meets, including one held in Patna in May 2025 with over 70 buyers from 22 countries, have further expanded market access for Bihar’s agri-produce.
The establishment of the APEDA office is expected to accelerate Bihar’s emergence as a hub for high-value, sustainable, and inclusive agricultural trade – empowering farmers, FPOs, start-ups, and women-led enterprises to connect with global value chains.
