Context: Recently, India surpassed Brazil in food exports to the League of Arab States for the first time in 15 years as the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted trade flows in 2020, according to data provided by the Arab-Brazil Chamber of Commerce.
Key Points

• The Arab world is among Brazil's most important trade partners, but its distance from those markets took its toll as the pandemic rattled global logistics.
• The US, Australia and the Netherlands were the top destinations of India's goods but those to China, Saudi Arabia and Tanzania declined. 
• Brazil accounted for 8.15% of the total agribusiness products imported by the 22 League members last year, whereas India captured 8.25% of that trade, ending Brazil's 15-year advantage, the data showed.

Key Reason

• Despite remaining competitive "from the farm gate in," Brazil lost ground to India and other exporters such as Turkey, the United States, France and Argentina amid a disruption of traditional shipping routes.
• Brazilian shipments to Saudi Arabia that once took 30 days could now take up to 60 days, according to the Chamber, whereas India's geographic advantages allow it to ship fruits, vegetables, sugar, grains and meat in as little as week.

India’s food export

• India’s export of processed food products has witnessed a growth of 26.51% in Rupee term during April-February (2020-21) as compared to the same period during the previous year (2019-20).
• Total value of the export of processed products was Rs. 43,798 crores during April-February 2021.

Government of India initiatives to promote food export
For boosting agricultural and processed food products exports, Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) initiated a series of measures that include:

• Virtual buyer-seller meet
• Product promotion meeting
• Creation of products specific export promotion forums
• Ensuring market access through organizing exports promotion activities

Major processed food products exported from India include pulses, processed vegetables, processed fruits, and juices.

• Agriculture and Processed Foods Export Promotion Scheme: Financial assistance under this Scheme of APEDA for the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework was provided for infrastructure Development, Quality Development and Market Promotion.
• Export promotion of GI products: APEDA has taken initiative to promote exports of products which registered with Geographical Indications (GI) certification in India.
• Opening up market access &export promotion in international markets: APEDA has played an important role in opening up of new market for agricultural products in the recent past such as Canada, China, South Korea, Taiwan, Portugal, Indonesia, Iran etc.

About Arab league

• The Arab League, officially the League of Arab States, is a union of Arabic-speaking African and Asian countries.
• It includes Northern, Western & Eastern Africa and Western Asia.
• Administrative center: Cairo, Egypt
• Formed in: Cairo, 22 March 1945
• Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, Syria, Saudi Arabia and Yemen are founding members.

Aim

• To draw closer the relations between member states and co-ordinate collaboration between them.
• To safeguard their independence and sovereignty.
• To consider in a general way the affairs and interests of the Arab countries.
• Each member’s representative has one vote, irrespective of their country’s size.
• The council meets twice a year, in March and September.
• They may convene a special session at the request of two members.