New Delhi: India is hosting a global event in the sugar sector, the ‘ISO Council Meeting,’ in New Delhi from 25th to 27th June 2024. Delegates from more than 30 countries and representatives of many international organisations are joining to deliberate on critical issues in the sugar and biofuel sectors.
As India is the world’s largest consumer and second-largest producer of sugar, the ISO Council nominated India as the Chair of the organisation for 2024. As part of the meeting, India is starting the series of events with an industrial tour for the international delegates to a grain-based distillery at Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh, on 24th June 2024 to showcase India’s adoption of the latest technology in the production of biofuels and other by-products.
On 25th June 2024, a workshop titled ‘Sugar and Biofuels – Emerging Vistas’ is being organised at Bharat Mandapam. Pralhad Joshi, Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and New & Renewable Energy, will inaugurate the workshop.
International delegates, top management of Indian sugar mills, industry associations like ISMA and NFCSF, as well as technical experts, are participating in the workshop. This forum is expected to bring an opportunity to more than 200 delegates from various organisations and parts of the world to discuss the future perspective of the global sugar sector, biofuels, sustainability, and the role of farmers, etc. This is also aimed at strengthening the Global Biofuel Alliance, an initiative of Narender Modi, Prime Minister of India, in bringing together countries to promote the development and adoption of sustainable biofuels in the world as an effort to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases. Many member countries of ISO and the Global Biofuel Alliance are common, and this can be another forum to expand the alliance and promotion of biofuels.
The International Sugar Organisation (ISO) is a UN-affiliated body headquartered in London. ISO has about 85 countries as members covering almost 90% of the world's sugar production. It is mandated to bring major sugar-producing, consuming, and trading nations together to foster mutual understanding and a progressive approach in dealing with issues pertaining to the sugar sector. ISO has also been working on biofuels, especially ethanol, as sugarcane is the second major feedstock for ethanol production in the world.
Giving a glimpse of diverse and rich Indian culture is the motive behind a cultural programme scheduled for the evening of 25th June 2024 for the delegates coming from different parts of the world.
On 26th and 27th June 2024, various Committee meetings of ISO will be held, mainly focused on various administrative and functional aspects of the organisation. It also includes presentations of some studies conducted by economists of ISO. Sanjeev Chopra, Secretary, Department of Food and Public Distribution, in his capacity as the Chairman of the organisation, will be chairing the meetings on 26th and 27th June 2024.
The programme concludes with a guided tour to the Red Fort of New Delhi on the evening of 27th June 2024 and a visit to the Prime Ministers’ Museum and Library, New Delhi, on 28th June 2024.
The week-long programme is a blend of brainstorming, discussions, and academic studies regarding the sugar and biofuel sectors as well as the administrative functioning of the International Sugar Organisation. /BI
