APEDA facilitates landmark export, strengthening North Eastern Region’s role in India’s floriculture exports

In a significant step towards enhancing India’s floriculture export potential, particularly from the North Eastern Region (NER), the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), in collaboration with the Department of Horticulture, Government of Mizoram, successfully facilitated the flagging off of the first consignment of Anthurium flowers from Aizawl, Mizoram, to Singapore. The event, held in a hybrid (phygital) format, took place on February 26, 2025.

Chairman of APEDA, Shri Abhishek Dev, and Special Secretary, Department of Horticulture, Govt. of Mizoram, Smt. Ramdinliani, flagged off the first consignment of Anthurium flowers from Mizoram to Singapore. Officials from APEDA, the Department of Horticulture, Govt. of Mizoram, Zo Anthurium Growers Cooperative Society, IVC Agrovet Pvt. Ltd., and Veg Pro Singapore Pte. Ltd. participated in the ceremonial flag-off.

The consignment, comprising 1,024 Anthurium cut flowers (weighing 70 kg) packed in 50 corrugated boxes, was exported by IVC Agrovet Pvt. Ltd. from Aizawl, Mizoram, to Singapore via Kolkata. The flowers were sourced from the Zo Anthurium Growers Cooperative Society, Aizawl, Mizoram, and imported by Veg Pro Singapore Pte. Ltd., marking a milestone in the region’s floriculture export journey.

Anthurium is one of the most important flowers cultivated in Mizoram, playing a vital role in driving local economic activity, particularly benefiting farmers, including women. The flower’s cultivation has been a source of livelihood and empowerment for local communities. Mizoram also organizes the annual “Anthurium Festival,” which promotes tourism and highlights the flower’s beauty and ornamental value.

The first-ever export of Anthurium flowers from Mizoram to Singapore follows the success of the International Conclave cum Buyer-Seller Meet (IBSM) organized by APEDA in collaboration with the Government of Mizoram on December 6, 2024, in Aizawl. The IBSM witnessed participation from nine international buyers from countries such as Singapore, UAE, Nepal, Jordan, Oman, Azerbaijan, Russia, and Ethiopia, along with 24 domestic exporters. The event established important trade connections and market opportunities for Mizoram’s floriculture products.

India’s floriculture exports reached USD 86.62 million in FY 2023-2024. This first consignment of Anthurium flowers from Mizoram to Singapore marks a significant step toward expanding floriculture exports, particularly from the North Eastern Region. NER holds immense potential for the export of horticultural and floricultural products. APEDA remains committed to supporting this potential through export promotional activities and collaborations with various stakeholders in the region.

The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) is a statutory body under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India. APEDA’s mission is to develop, facilitate, and promote the exports of agricultural and processed food products from India, strengthening the nation’s footprint in the global food and beverage industry.

Export facilitation boosts north eastern floriculture with first Anthurium consignment to international market, expanding export opportunities. Facilitation of first consignment of Anthurium flowers from Mizoram to Singapore evidences targeted export promotion and market-linkage activity to expand India's floriculture exports from the North Eastern Region. APEDA, acting in its statutory capacity as an export promotion authority, coordinated with the State Department of Horticulture, local growers' cooperative and private exporter/importer to operationalise the shipment, demonstrating mechanisms for supply aggregation, packaging, and interstate transit to an international hub.