India’s rice bowl gets global audience as 3,317 buyers sign up for BIRC 2026

BIRC 2026 draws 3,317 overseas buyers from 138 countries ahead of October event

India’s rice exporters are set to get a wider international business platform this October, with 3,317 buyers from 138 countries registering for the Bharat International Rice Conference (BIRC) 2026.The three-day conference will be held at Bharat Mandapam in the national capital from October 23 to 25. Registration data released by the organiser showed that buyers from a diverse set of markets across Africa, the Gulf, Southeast Asia and neighbouring countries have already signed up as of August 30.Bangladesh accounts for the largest share of registrations with 336 buyers, followed by Benin with 179 and Nigeria with 177. The UAE has 145 registrations, while Nepal and the Philippines have recorded 137 each.Ethiopia has registered 127 buyers and Saudi Arabia 125, while Indonesia and South Africa have 109 registrations each.Buyers have also registered from Senegal, Iraq, Somalia, Guinea, Yemen, Côte d’Ivoire, Niger, Australia, Mali, Malaysia, Ghana, Angola and Kenya, among several other established and emerging markets.“The response to BIRC 2026 clearly demonstrates the breadth of global markets looking at India. With 3,317 buyers from 138 countries already registered, our focus is to convert this international participation into new trade routes, new buyers and long-term business relationships for Indian rice exporters,” said Dev Garg, Vice President, Indian Rice Exporters’ Federation (IREF).

Africa accounts for a significant chunk of buyer interest

The registration spread has placed Africa among the key opportunity regions for Indian rice exporters. Benin, Nigeria and Ethiopia have recorded strong participation, while buyers from South Africa, Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire, Niger, Ghana, Angola and Kenya have also registered.The Gulf is another important market and trading hub, with the UAE and Saudi Arabia featuring prominently in the registrations. Southeast Asia has also emerged as an area of interest, with buyers from the Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia registering for the conference.According to the IREF, the geographical diversity of participants could help Indian exporters reach new customers and destinations while reducing excessive dependence on individual markets.BIRC 2026 follows the market-diversification initiative undertaken at the previous edition, which sought to unlock potential rice-import markets estimated at Rs 1.8 lakh crore. The latest registrations are expected to provide a wider base for pursuing this opportunity through direct engagement with buyers from individual countries.

Matchmaking platform to focus on actual business deals

The conference will seek to move beyond conventional networking through an app-enabled B2B matchmaking platform. Buyers, exporters, millers and service providers will be able to identify prospective counterparts and schedule meetings according to rice varieties, volumes, product specifications, market requirements and buyer preferences.“Our app-enabled B2B matchmaking will allow buyers, exporters, millers and service providers to identify and schedule targeted meetings based on rice varieties, volumes, product specifications and market requirements. The objective is to move from general networking to commercially meaningful business engagement,” he said.The B2B meetings will remain operational throughout the conference, with participants able to arrange targeted discussions in advance. The platform is intended to make interactions more focused and commercially productive.

Price outlook for 2027 to be under the spotlight

The global rice market’s prospects for 2027 will be a key area of discussion at the conference. One session will examine the theme, “Global Demand & Supply Outlook 2027: Price Crash or New Bull Run?”The session will bring together crop surveys, production estimates, demand and supply figures, stock levels and expert market views to assess possible price and trade scenarios for 2027.Nine other business-focused knowledge sessions will cover Crop Survey and Price Forecasting; New Market Opportunities; Documentation, Insurance and Credit; Bulk and Container Shipping; Quality and Certification; Policy, Trade Schemes and Incentives; Sustainability and Carbon Credits; Profitable Rice Milling; and Value-Added Products.The sessions are designed as practical business-training modules, with a focus on market expansion, risk reduction, payment protection, margin improvement and commercially usable information.

Vision 2047, innovations and experience zones on agenda

The conference will also feature the launch of Rice Sector Vision 2047, along with the Top Five Innovations Reveal, an Innovation Showcase and an Ambassadors’ Meet.Nine immersive Experience Zones will take visitors through different aspects of the rice ecosystem, including its origins, biodiversity, farming communities, global cuisines, trade routes, value-added applications and future seed innovation.International buyers, Indian exporters, millers, policymakers, technology providers and other stakeholders across the rice value chain are expected to participate in the programme.The final day of BIRC 2026 will also feature a public-facing Rice Festival on October 25.With registrations already exceeding 3,300 buyers from 138 countries, the conference is seeking to bring together a broad international buyer base with India’s rice industry.For Indian exporters, the focus will be on turning the participation into new markets, new trade routes and long-term export relationships.