News India Times

www.newsindiatimes.com – that’s all you need to know 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 week- end despite 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 India–USA Trade Facilita- tion Portal, a first-of-its-kind, government-backed, free-to- use digital platform that con- nects verified Indian exporters with U.S. importers across both the goods and services sectors. PROMOTING THE TRADE PORTAL The Portal was the commer- cial centerpiece of the Consul- ate’s participation. Designed as long-term infrastructure for the India–U.S. trade corridor, it replaces fragmented broker networks with a single, vetted directory of Indian suppliers. Key features include: • A vetted, onboarded exporter database giving U.S. importers immediate access to verified partners • Virtual exhibitions show- casing 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) par- ticipants The festival contributed to increased registrations and interest from U.S. importers and businesses on the Por- tal, 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 trying 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 become easy,” she said. She explained that her sourcing depends on in- gredients that simply cannot be replicated 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 fol- lowed there.” Her brand, Pure Mitti, procures 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, well- ness, 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 the Western Ghats), Pure Mitti (Ayurvedic, sustain- able home and personal care), and Amara Xpres- sions (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 desti- nation markets, import- ing 15.21 million kg of Indian tea in 2025. India is also the world’s sixth-larg- est coffee producer, 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. Community News India Times (June 6, 2026 - June 12, 2026) June 12, 2026 9