Indian Food and Agri Exporters Meet Australian Buyers in Sydney and Melbourne

A delegation of Indian food and agricultural exporters met Australian importers, distributors, retailers and wholesalers in Sydney and Melbourne at the India-Australia Food and Agri Business Connect 2026, a five-day trade program held from October 5 to 9, 2026.

The program was led by the Federation of Indian Export Organizations (FIEO), established under the auspices of India’s Ministry of Commerce, with Australian organizing partner VC Next Gen (VCN) coordinating local business engagements and arrangements in both cities. The organizers describe the delegation as a senior trade mission of founders, CEOs, managing directors and industry leaders, and say it was FIEO’s second Australian program this year.

The program’s principal events were two Buyer-Seller Meets, held at PARKROYAL Darling Harbor in Sydney on October 6 and at Pan Pacific Melbourne on October 8, with support from the Consulates General of India in Sydney and Melbourne and the Australia India Business Council (AIBC).

FIEO was represented by Prashant Seth, Joint Deputy Director General and CEO, and Mohit Hans, Deputy Director, who coordinated the delegation.

In Sydney, Seth spoke at the inaugural session alongside S. Janakiraman, Consul General of India in Sydney, who delivered the keynote address.

Other speakers included Deepak Raj Gupta, National Chair of the AIBC; Divya Skene of the Center for Australia-India Relations; Uvaraja Hariramakrishnan, CEO of Sabrini Foods; Tarang Koppal, Director of ALS Global; and Carolyn Macgill, Executive Officer of the Food and Beverage Importers Association.

Discussions focused on opportunities for Indian manufacturers to engage directly with Australian buyers, understand local market requirements and explore distribution partnerships.

The Sydney program also included industry engagements with Udaya Supermart, Indya Foods and Grosco, which the organizers say gave delegates exposure to Australia’s food retail and distribution networks, followed by a business networking session in Parramatta on October 7 before the delegation traveled to Melbourne.

In Melbourne, Seth was joined at the inaugural session by Tej Krishan, Head of Chancery and Consul at the Consulate General of India in Melbourne, who delivered the keynote address.

Lee Tarlamis, a Member of the Victorian Legislative Council, attended on behalf of Victoria’s Minister for Trade.

Also taking part were Louise Perry, Interim Multicultural Coordinator General at Multicultural and Multifaith Victoria; Agostino Giramondo, Acting Chief Executive of the Committee for Melbourne; and Dhara Shah, Victoria President of the AIBC.

Industry perspectives came from Murali K. Metlapalli, CEO of Indya Foods; Koppal of ALS Global; and David Burns, Founder of DJB Food Group Australia, who presented an overview of the Australian market. Direct business meetings followed, including engagements organized with A-Z Buyers Australia Pty Ltd.

In Victoria, delegates also visited ALS Laboratory in Scoresby, Sabrini Foods in Carrum Downs and Grace Grocery in Clyde North, before a networking engagement in Cranbourne North on October 9. The visits covered food testing, quality assurance, distribution, retail operations and the requirements of the Australian market.

The delegation spanned sectors including rice, spices, pulses, grains, confectionery, beverages, fruit products, honey, packaged foods, coconut products and sustainable packaging, and the organizers say the engagements gave Australian businesses the opportunity to explore direct sourcing from Indian manufacturers, private-label arrangements, new product categories and longer-term supply partnerships.

The organizers linked the initiative to the Australia-India Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA), which they describe as continuing to provide a framework for expanding bilateral trade.

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