Despite a bumper domestic crop, Iraq has revalidated 300,000-tonne contracts to import wheat from India and the letters to this effect will be issued shortly.
"Three lakh-tonne wheat contracts involving six Indian exporters under UN Oil for Food Programme have been revalidated and delivery at euro 200 a tonne cost and freight is expected to begin next month," chairman, India-Iraq Joint Business Council Anil K Agarwal said in New Delhi.
Agarwal had led the first ever organised business delegation to Iraq after the second Gulf War comprising 30 members.
On his return, he said delivery of wheat will be at Alqaba or Kuwait port latest by November 21, 2003 when the UN programme expires.
Six trading houses, which were represented in the delegation and got their contracts confirmed again are Agarwal's owned Cosmos International, State Trading Corporation, Priyanka Overseas, Mohan Exports, P C P International and L T Overseas.