Desi Talk

www.desitalk.com – that’s all you need to know 7 CITY VIEWS June 5, 2026 Indian Consulate, New York Showcases India–USA Trade Facilitation Portal At Smorgasburg AAPI Festival Of Tea May 23–24, 2026 T he Consulate General of India, NewYork (CGI NewYork) participated in the second edition of the Smorgasburg AAPI Festival of Tea, held across two of Brooklyn’s most iconic open-air venues on May 23 and 24, 2026: Williamsburg on Saturday and Prospect Park on Sunday. The festival drew more than 10,000 visitors over the weekend de- spite overcast skies and intermittent rain. CGI NewYork anchored an official India presence at the festival, curating a lineup of diaspora-founded brands and using the platform to promote the In- dia–USA Trade Facilitation Portal, a first-of-its-kind, government-backed, free-to-use digital platform that connects verified Indian exporters with U.S. importers across both the goods and services sectors. PROMOTING THE TRADE PORTAL The Portal was the commercial centerpiece of the Consulate’s participation. Designed as long-term infrastructure for the India–U.S. trade corridor, it re- places fragmented broker networks with a single, vet- ted directory of Indian suppliers. Key features include: • A vetted, onboarded exporter database giving U.S. importers immediate access to verified partners • Virtual exhibitions showcasing Indian products and services across sectors • Educational webinars on U.S. market trends, compliance, and category opportunities • Dedicated support for MSMEs and One District One Product (ODOP) participants The festival contributed to increased registrations and interest from U.S. importers and businesses on the Portal, alongside direct, on-site engagement with buyers, retail and hospitality operators, and food and lifestyle media. IMPORTERS ON THE GROUND U.S. importers and buyers who attended the festival shared their perspective on sourcing directly from Indian producers and on the Portal as a tool for cross- border trade. One importer described spending nearly a year try- ing to find the right Indian producer communities on her own, an effort the Portal has now transformed. “It took me an entire year to find communities like these. With the India Portal, procuring products has be- come easy,” she said. She explained that her sourcing depends on ingredients that simply cannot be repli- cated outside India: “These are Ayurvedic products, an ancient science. They can’t be made here, because we don’t get the freshest, purest ingredients. They have to be made in India, using the traditional methods that are still followed there.” Her brand, Pure Mitti, pro- cures its ingredients directly from rural Indian farmers. “It’s a win-win,” she added. “You find the best export- ers, and they find the best importers.” FEATURED INDIAN-ORIGIN BRANDS The curated vendor lineup spanned food, specialty coffee, wellness, and handcrafted décor: Brooklyn Curry Project (regional Indian cuisine and chai, includ- ing an interactive “Build Your Chai” experience), Yeri Coffee (single-origin specialty coffee from theWestern Ghats), Pure Mitti (Ayurvedic, sustainable home and personal care), and Amara Xpressions (handcrafted rattan furniture and décor). TRADE CONTEXT The festival’s focus on tea and coffee aligned with a strong moment in India–U.S. trade. India is the world’s second-largest tea exporter, with total tea exports reaching an all-time high of 280.40 million kg in 2025. The United States remains among India’s top destina- tion markets, importing 15.21 million kg of Indian tea in 2025. India is also the world’s sixth-largest coffee pro- ducer, with growing U.S. demand for ethically sourced, single-origin specialty coffee. Portal Registration: https://indiausatrade.mea.gov.in/register Portal Website: https://indiausatrade.mea.gov.in Support: support@indiausatrade.mea.gov.in Media Contacts: pol.newyork@mea.gov.in commerce.newyork@mea.gov.in. Press Release PHOTOS:FACEBOOK @INDIAINNEWYORKVIDEOGRAB Above and below: Several Tea exhibits at the Smorgasburg AAPI Festival of Tea May 23-24, 2026, in Williamsburg and Prospect Park.