New Delhi – The 40th edition of AAHAR, one of India’s leading trade fairs dedicated to the food and hospitality sectors, was inaugurated yesterday by India’s Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal and the Ambassador of Italy to India, Antonio Bartoli.
Italy is participating in AAHAR 2026 as Partner Country. This represents a particularly significant recognition, as this is the first time the event has adopted this format, reflecting the shared willingness to further intensify economic and trade dialogue between the two countries.
“Agri-food represents a strategic sector for both countries,” Ambassador Bartoli commented, “with broad opportunities for growth in terms of trade, investment and industrial cooperation. In this context, the conclusion of the EU–India Free Trade Agreement could further strengthen bilateral exchanges and foster the development of integrated agri-food value chains between Italy and India, creating new synergies between our respective food ecosystems.”
Opportunities for cooperation span several key sectors, including food processing, agricultural machinery, packaging, cold-chain logistics, livestock and agri-industrial technologies.
“An increasing number of Italian companies,” Ambassador Bartoli added, “are ready to strengthen partnerships with Indian counterparts through import–export activities, joint ventures, investments and technology transfer, with the aim of supporting job creation and industrial production.”
With more than 1.4 billion inhabitants and as the world’s second-largest food producer, India represents a market of primary importance for Italian businesses and an increasingly central partner for the development of new opportunities in the global agri-food sector.
The Italian presence at the fair, coordinated by the Italian Trade Agency (ICE), includes a dedicated pavilion hosting ten companies, aimed at showcasing the extraordinary richness of Italy’s gastronomic tradition — the result of centuries of history, culture and territorial biodiversity.
The ten exhibiting companies represent the excellence of Italian agri-food production across several Made in Italy sectors, including high-quality flours, hazelnuts and derivatives, tuna in olive oil, cocoa and chocolate, extra virgin olive oil and seed oils, pasta, sauces and preserves, cured meats, plant-based alternatives, balsamic vinegar and truffle-based products.
Italian cuisine, admired and recognized worldwide, represents a model of quality built on authentic ingredients, artisanal techniques and a strong connection with local territories. This value has been universally acknowledged through the prestigious recognition granted in New Delhi on 10 December 2025, when Italian cuisine was officially inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity—the first time an entire national gastronomic tradition has received this distinction.
Participation in AAHAR therefore offers a strategic opportunity to present to Indian consumers and industry operators a wide range of high-quality agri-food products, backed by a historical and cultural value recognized worldwide.
The growing attention of Indian consumers to quality, food safety and premium products makes the market particularly promising for Italian companies.
Among the special events scheduled during the fair are tastings, B2B meetings and promotional activities, including show-cooking sessions and masterclasses.
