North‑East dairy leads Assam’s first international ice‑cream shipment

In a landmark development, North East Dairy and Foods Ltd (NEDFL) has dispatched Assam’s first overseas consignment of Purbhi ice cream, sending 5,627 litres to Bhutan. The shipment represents a breakthrough for the state’s processed dairy export ambitions.

The Ministry of Commerce and Industry reported that the ice cream will be distributed across Bhutan’s key cities—Thimphu, Paro, Phuentsholing and Wangdue—thereby reinforcing the presence of Northeast Indian dairy products in the neighboring country’s market.

The export was officially flagged off by Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma in Guwahati, who highlighted the potential for increased farmer incomes. Purbhi ice cream is manufactured using milk sourced from a large cooperative network of Assam’s dairy farmers, processed by West Assam Milk Producers Cooperative Union Ltd (WAMUCL) and marketed under the NEDFL brand.

The cargo includes a range of packaging solutions: individual cups, family‑size packs, cone assortments and gallon containers, designed for both retail shoppers and bulk buyers. The Ministry emphasized that APEDA’s support—covering documentation, regulatory clear‑ances, and market‑linkage services—was instrumental in ensuring a seamless export process.

This achievement underscores the continuing efforts of APEDA to expand the export ecosystem for value‑added agri‑products from the Northeast, positioning Assam as a reliable supplier of premium dairy goods on the international stage.