The Northeast will take the gastronomical route to woo China with kiwi wine from Arunachal Pradesh and boka chaul (Oryzasativa) from Assam.

These delicacies from the region will be promoted at the six-day China International Import Expo in Shanghai early next month.

Altogether 2,800 companies from over 130 countries and regions will meet around 150,000 buyers in Shanghai from November 5 at the expo.

The trade fair, organised by the China International Import Expo bureau and the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai) Co Ltd, is jointly sponsored by the ministry of commerce of the People’s Republic of China and the Shanghai Municipal People’s Government.

As the first exhibition of its kind, it is supported by international organisations including the World Trade Organisation, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and United Nations Industrial Development Organisation.

A senior official of the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (Apeda) said it took up this initiative to promote products from the Northeast for a good response and help in getting market access.

The Apeda is an exports promotion organisation under the Union ministry of commerce and industry.

The official said they would do their best to promote the products.

The official said China is an important destination for some agri produce like processed fruit juice, nuts, processed vegetables and alcoholic beverages.

Boka chaul is the latest natural produce from Assam to be registered with the Geographical Indications (GI) tag from the GI Registry under the Intellectual Property India of the office of the controller general of patent, designs and trade marks under the ministry of commerce and industry. This is the only product after muga silk, joha rice and Tezpur litchi to be registered as GI.

“We are trying to link the produce of the Northeast to the international market and are in dialogue with producers and other stakeholders,” he said.

Apeda recently exported beans, known as urohi in Assamese and Dolichos lablab scientifically to London and got a good market response.

It has also exported pineapples and other commodities from the Northeast.