Kollam to host cashew buyer-seller meet

During February 17-19, 2011, the second Kaju India 2011 buyer-seller meet that will be organized by the Cashew Export Promotion Council of India (CEPC) will take place in Kollam, Kerala which is said to be the cashew capital of the country.
Meanwhile, CEPC Chairman, Mr Shahal Hassan Musaliar said that about 250 Indian cashew kernel exporters and global cashew kernel buyers are likely to attend this meet.
Known for its cashews, Kollam has been the center of Indian cashew industry for more than 100 years thus, it has been made the venue of this meet.
The chairman also said that the country is also a major consumer of cashew kernels globally apart from being a top exporter.
Moreover, Mr Musaliar stated that the representatives of the global cashew buyers, salters, retailers, brokers, quality experts, consultants, exporters and other supporting service providers will be attending this meet.
The Kaju India 2011 buyer-seller meet will include technical sessions that will help in getting to know the changing expectations of global cashew buyers.
In addition it will also assist in getting to know how the Indian exporters should develop their strategies in order to meet global specification needs.
However, The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development said that the exports of cashew in January 2011 reached 15,000 tonnes, worth US$98 million, a year-on-year increase of 14.3 per cent in volume and 38.3 per cent in value.
Nguyen Thai Hoc, chairman of Donafoods Dong Nai Company said that the exports were worth $3.1 million in January alone, up 30 per cent in value against last year while it expects the export value in 2011 to be $47 million, up 10 per cent against last year.
The cashew is in the family Anacardiaceae. It is now widely grown in tropical climates for its cashew nuts (see below) and cashew apples.

(Source: http://money.oneindia.in/news/2011/02/15/kollam-host-cashew.html)