New Delhi: India’s diverse regional traditions are finding an international platform alongside high-level diplomacy at the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi, with traditional food products, local produce and handicrafts from different states being featured in specially curated media kits for visiting journalists.
Among the products selected for the initiative, coffee cultivated in Koraput district of Odisha has emerged as a distinctive representation of the state’s growing coffee culture. Bihar’s traditional sattu and makhana, along with handicrafts from Gujarat, have also been included, offering international media a glimpse into India’s cultural and economic diversity.
The BRICS Summit is scheduled to be held in New Delhi on September 12 and 13, with journalists from India and abroad arriving in the national capital to cover the high-level gathering.
MEA Uses BRICS Media Kits to Showcase ‘India Story’
The initiative has been undertaken by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) with the objective of presenting India’s diversity to the international media.
Rather than limiting the media kits to conventional summit-related briefing material, the MEA has incorporated products representing different parts of the country. The idea is to allow visiting journalists to experience aspects of India’s culinary heritage, agricultural produce and traditional craftsmanship.
Vasudev Ravi, OSD, PR, Ministry of External Affairs, explained the thinking behind the initiative, describing the summit as an opportunity to communicate the broader “India Story” to journalists from across the world.
He said the MEA partnered with three state governments to showcase traditional food products and handicrafts.
Koraput Coffee Represents Odisha at Global Summit
Odisha’s contribution to the media kit comes in the form of coffee from Koraput, a region known for its distinctive highland environment and emerging coffee cultivation.
The inclusion of Koraput coffee gives international journalists an opportunity to discover a lesser-known aspect of Odisha’s agricultural landscape. Coffee cultivation in the Koraput hills has increasingly drawn attention as an example of the state’s diverse agricultural potential.
For Odisha, the BRICS media kit provides an unusual international platform for introducing Koraput’s coffee to a global audience.
Bihar Brings Sattu and Makhana
Bihar’s contribution focuses on two products strongly associated with the state’s food and agricultural traditions — sattu and makhana.
Sattu, traditionally prepared from roasted grains and commonly consumed as a drink, has long been an important part of Bihar’s culinary identity.
Makhana, or fox nuts, is another major food and agricultural product associated with the state. Its inclusion in the media kit reflects Bihar’s contribution to India’s diverse regional food culture.
Together, the two products provide international visitors with a taste of Bihar’s traditional cuisine and agricultural heritage.
Gujarat Handicrafts Highlight India’s Artisanal Heritage
Gujarat has contributed a selection of traditional handicrafts, bringing India’s rich artisanal traditions into the BRICS media experience.
The state’s handicrafts reflect generations of craftsmanship and artistic skills passed down through communities. By including these products, the initiative highlights the role of India’s traditional artisans and the wide variety of indigenous craft traditions found across the country.
The Gujarat contribution complements the food products from Bihar and Odisha, creating a broader representation of India’s regional diversity.
A Compact Showcase of India’s Diversity
The carefully selected products effectively transform the BRICS media kit into a small representation of India’s vast cultural landscape.
From Bihar’s traditional food products to Odisha’s Koraput coffee and Gujarat’s handicrafts, the selection brings together agriculture, cuisine and craftsmanship from different regions.
For international journalists attending the summit, the initiative offers an opportunity to engage with India beyond official meetings and policy discussions.
BRICS Summit Provides Global Platform for Indian Products
The 18th BRICS Summit is bringing together leaders and delegations from major emerging economies for discussions on global political, economic and development-related issues.
Against this backdrop, the MEA’s decision to incorporate regional products into the media kits adds a cultural dimension to India’s hosting of the summit.
The initiative also demonstrates how major international events can be used to introduce India’s local products and traditional skills to a global audience.
For Odisha in particular, the presence of Koraput coffee in the BRICS media kits provides valuable international visibility for the state’s coffee-growing region and its evolving agricultural identity.
As journalists from around the world report from New Delhi, these regional products offer them a tangible introduction to the many cultures, flavours and traditions that together form the broader India Story.
