APEDA Facilitates First Biscuit Export Shipment from Varanasi to Oman under India-Oman CEPA

📌 Summary:

• APEDA (under Ministry of Commerce & Industry) facilitated a 40-metric-tonne (MT) biscuit export consignment from Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, to Oman
• It is the first biscuit export from Varanasi to Oman following the signing of the India-Oman Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), signalling growing processed-food export potential from eastern UP
• Exporter: M/s Shree Tirupati Balajee Industries Pvt. Ltd., a Varanasi-based manufacturer-exporter; APEDA supported it via trade fairs such as AAHAR 2026 and Gulfood 2026
• Logistics route: Varanasi → Inland Container Depot (ICD) Kanpur (customs clearance) → Jawaharlal Nehru Port (JNPT) → Oman
• CEPA is expected to improve market access for Indian exporters, especially in agriculture and processed foods; APEDA plans further shipments to Oman in coming months

🎯 UPSC Relevance: GS2 IR — bilateral trade agreements (CEPA) deepening India-Gulf economic ties and boosting value-added exports; links to GS3 trade and food processing.

📝 Prelims Facts:

• India-Oman CEPA — a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement covering goods, services and investment
• Consignment: 40 MT of biscuits; routed via ICD Kanpur and JNPT
• Facilitating body: APEDA, under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry

🔑 Key Term: CEPA (Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement) — a broad trade pact that liberalises trade in goods and services and covers investment and economic cooperation between two countries.