During an official visit in France, the delegation of the Indian Ministry of Food Processing Industries, accompanied by the representatives of their Embassy, has been received by the OIV President, Mr. Yves Bénard and the OIV Director General, Mr. Federico Castellucci, says the communiqué.
This visit to the OIV headquarters follows on the approach initiated for the membership of India to the OIV.
The representatives of the MFPI emphasized the growing development of the Indian wine and grape industries, both for the sector of grapes intended for the production of quality wines and for the traditional table grapes.
President of the OIV, Mr. Yves Bénard welcomed this meeting as an important step for India to become the first Asian country to join the OIV during the first half of 2010.
The Director General of the world body, Mr. Federico Castellucci who is into his second term as an elected representative from the member nations, recalled the significant growth of the Asian continent in the wine sector, both for production and consumption, in which India plays a major role.
Castellucci declared that he is convinced that India is one of the wine key markets of the 21st century and that it is fundamental that India can participate actively in the international normative process as a plenary OIV Member, both to regulate a sector in rapid development, but also to secure its consumers and facilitate international trade.
The delegation was led by Mr. Ashok Sinha, the Secretary of the Government of India , Ministry of Food Production and included among others, the Joint Secretary, Mr. Rajeswara Rao.
At July 29, 2009 the International Organisation of Vine and Wine was made up of 43 member states to which are added former members of the International Vine and Wine Office observer states. All the major global wine producers except the US are members of OIV. |