India’s Purabi Dairy Begins Exporting Ice Cream to Bhutan

The consignment was flagged off by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. The export was facilitated by India’s Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), which assisted the company in completing the necessary regulatory procedures and documentation.

The products will be available in Thimphu, Paro, Phuentsholing and Wangdue Phodrang. The first shipment includes ice cream in cups, cones, family packs and bulk packs intended for retail and institutional customers.

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 company sources milk from farmers across Assam through a regional network of dairy cooperatives.

“Purabi ice cream’s entry into the Bhutanese market will create new opportunities for dairy cooperatives and rural producers. The state government will continue to support the production of value-added products and the expansion of market access,” Himanta Biswa Sarma said.

Purabi Dairy’s milk-processing capacity has been expanded in recent years from 60,000 to 150,000 liters per day. The project was implemented with financial support from the World Bank-funded APART program. The expanded facility includes a dedicated ice cream production line.

NEDFL plans to establish a distribution network in Bhutan, assess consumer demand and gradually broaden its product range. The company is also considering exporting other Purabi dairy products, particularly those with a longer shelf life.

Bhutan’s proximity to Assam facilitates the logistics of chilled and frozen products. Expanding exports could provide an additional sales channel for milk produced by farmers in the region.