TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — India Taipei Association Director-General Manharsinh Laxmanbhai Yadav visited I-Mei Foods headquarters on Tuesday.
Yadav engaged with I-Mei Foods President Luis Ko (高志明) on potential fields of cooperation between India and Taiwan, particularly in the drone and food processing industries.
India has very “liberal” regulations on the use of drones, Yadav said. Around 80% of the country does not require approval from local authorities to operate drones, he said, adding that it is the fastest-growing sector in India.
They are especially useful in agriculture and healthcare, the director-general said.
India is also a big market for processed foods including freeze-dried products, Yadav said. India grows thousands of varieties of mangoes and is the supplier of 60% of the world’s mangoes.
It also is a major producer of dragon fruit. Large fruit production is possible due to India’s status as the country with the second-largest amount of arable land.
India is also the largest dairy producer in Asia, Yadav said. Despite these impressive figures, the food processing industry is small and still growing. He noted that foreign brands, including Nestle, dominate the country.
The director-general suggested that cybersecurity could be another area of bilateral collaboration, given the two countries face similar cyber challenges. He highlighted India’s expertise in IT and said linking Taiwanese companies with the Uttar Pradesh-based think tank Data Security Council of India could be a good starting point for cooperation.
Yadav praised Ko for his wide-ranging projects and initiatives, saying he has “done a great job for Taiwan.”
The director-general’s courtesy call follows a visit by a delegation from the Indian state of Bihar last year. Department of Industries Additional Chief Secretary Sandeep Poundrik lauded Bihar’s food processing capabilities and said I-Mei could source food products from the state and utilize its food processing plants.
*I-Mei Foods is the parent company of Taiwan News.