Lok Sabha Question No. 677 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-06
Subject: Export of Sugar to Maldives
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Kumbakudi Sudhakaran

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.677 TO BE ANSWERED ON 6TH DECEMBER, 2023

## EXPORT OF SUGAR TO MALDIVES

## 677.  SHRI KUMBAKUDI SUDHAKARAN:

Will  the  Minister of  CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DiSTRiBUTiON avsiNn qH, @rH3ittMTtqq fqvwr Ht  be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Ministry of Consumer Affairs is aware of the Bilateral Trade Agreement(BTA) between India and  Maldives, that  exempts essential commodities including sugar from existing or future restrictions for export to Maldives;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether the Government has received any communication from the Ministry of External Affairs recently to permit an export order of sugar to the state owned STO of the Government of Maldives;
- (d) whether it  is true  that  the Director of Sugar has denied permission, despite the DGFT notification explicitly exempting the export of essential items, including sugar, to Maldives from any existing  or future restrictions;
- (e) if so, the reasons therefor and if not, the details thereof;
- (f) whether the  Ministry agrees that  the  supply of  essential items, including sugar, is  crucial for  the trade relations between India and Maldives, given the geopolitical significance of the country; and
- (9) if so, the present status of the said BTA with  Maldives?

ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE FOR MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

(SADHVI NIRANJAN JYOTI)

(a) & (b):  The Government has notified the  Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) between India  and  Maldives vide  Directorate  General of  Foreign Trade's Notification  No. 14/201 5-2020 dated  12.07.2021 n

- (c): Department of  Food and Public Distribution has not received any communication in sugar season 2023-24, from Ministry of External Affairs to  permit an export order of  sugar to  the state owned STO of  the Government of Maldives.

(d),(e), (f) & (g): No request has been received till  date in  the current season from the Ministry of External Affairs to allow export of sugar to Maldives.

The  details of  sugar exports from India  to  Maldives  from  2019-20 onwards as under:-

| Financial Years March) (April to   | CIty exported (in MT)   |
|------------------------------------|-------------------------|
| 201 9-20                           | 1171 a 1                |
| 2020-21                            | 31 1 2.9                |
| 2021 -22                           | 4296.3                  |
| 2022-23                            | 5635.97                 |

(Source- DGFT)

Further, in view of the anticipated decline of sugar production in current sugar season 2023-24; and to  ensure sufficient  availability of sugar for domestic consumption at a reasonable price, vide DGFT Notification No.36/2023 dated 1 8.1 O.2023, export of sugar (raw/white/refined/ organic) has been kept  in  'Restricted' category till further orders.

Supply of essential items, including sugar to a country with which Government of India has Bi-lateral  Trade agreement,  can  be honoured as per the stock availability after the domestic consumption.

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