A Japanese trade office has held an event in New Delhi to promote fresh fruits from Japan to the huge and growing Indian market. The Japan External Trade Organization's office in the Indian capital invited people in the local food industry to the event on Tuesday. Apples from Aomori Prefecture and peaches grown in Okayama, Fukushima and other prefectures were served along with desserts made with them. A restaurant chef said Japanese apples are much sweeter than Indian ones.
Japan's agriculture ministry says India has banned imports of Japanese apples to prevent pests from entering the country. But imports will start from this harvest season on condition that apples are inspected and disinfected. JETRO says it will try to find sales routes for Japanese fruits. The head of the New Delhi office, Suzuki Takashi, says India has been importing apples from the United States and China, but not from Japan. He says he hopes Indian people will enjoy the high quality of Japanese apples.