Guwahati: Assam has exported dairy products to an international market for the first time, with Purabi Dairy dispatching its inaugural consignment of 5,627 litres of ice cream to neighbouring Bhutan.
Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma flagged off the consignment on Tuesday, describing it as a significant milestone for the state’s dairy sector and its cooperative movement.
The shipment will supply Purabi ice cream to major Bhutanese cities, including Thimphu, Paro, Phuentsholing and Wangdue, marking the brand’s first entry into an overseas market.
The flag-off ceremony was attended by Assam Cooperation Minister Kaushik Rai, senior officials of the Assam government, representatives of the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), North East Dairy and Foods Limited (NEDFL), and other stakeholders involved in facilitating the export.
Purabi ice cream is manufactured by the West Assam Milk Producers’ Cooperative Union Limited (WAMUL) and marketed by North East Dairy and Foods Limited (NEDFL). The products are made using milk sourced from thousands of dairy farmers across Assam through Purabi’s cooperative network.
Officials said the export was facilitated by APEDA, under the Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry, which assisted NEDFL with export documentation, regulatory compliance and other procedural requirements.
Speaking at the event, Chief Minister Sarma said the export reflected the growing strength of Assam’s dairy sector and would create new opportunities for dairy farmers and cooperative societies across the state.
“This export marks a proud milestone for Assam and reflects the growing strength of our dairy sector. Purabi ice cream is made from milk produced by farmers across the state, and its entry into the Bhutanese market will create new opportunities for our dairy cooperatives and rural producers,” he said.
The first consignment includes a range of Purabi products such as ice cream cups, family packs, cones and gallon packs, aimed at serving both retail customers and institutional buyers in Bhutan.
The export also represents an important step in Purabi Dairy’s efforts to expand beyond domestic markets and establish a presence in neighbouring countries. Officials said the initiative is expected to generate sustained demand for locally produced milk while strengthening market opportunities for dairy farmers.
Purabi Dairy has witnessed significant expansion over the past few years. A major part of this growth has been supported by the World Bank-funded Assam Agribusiness and Rural Transformation Project (APART), under which the dairy’s processing capacity was increased from 60 tonnes per day (TLPD) to 150 TLPD. The expanded facility also houses an ice cream plant with a production capacity of 60,000 litres per month, enabling the cooperative to scale up value-added dairy production.
Assam Cooperation Minister and NEDFL Chairman Kaushik Rai said the export demonstrated the strength of Assam’s cooperative dairy ecosystem and would help create sustainable income opportunities for milk producers.
He said the organisation would now focus on establishing a distribution network in Bhutan, studying consumer demand and gradually expanding the range of Purabi products available in the neighbouring country.
APEDA Deputy General Manager Sunita Rai said the authority has been working to promote agricultural and processed food exports from the North East and described the Bhutan shipment as an important milestone for Assam’s food processing sector.
With Bhutan’s proximity to Assam offering logistical advantages, officials believe the market presents strong potential for expanding exports of Made-in-Assam dairy products.
NEDFL said it plans to assess consumer response in Bhutan before increasing shipment volumes and introducing additional Purabi products, particularly dairy items with a longer shelf life.
The initiative is expected to strengthen Assam’s cooperative dairy sector while supporting the state’s broader objective of connecting local farmers with international markets through value-added agricultural products.
