A total of 23 Indian contracts have been shortlisted on the priority list under the United Nation's Oil-for-Food Programme covering goods like medicines and wheat.

According to a detailed list circulated by the Office of the Iraq Programme, Indian contracts in the priority category cover goods such as instant full cream powder, wheat, gas turbines, educational material and equipment, vitamins, soyabean meal, water pump, veterinary pharmaceuticals, medicines, drugs and pharmaceuticals.

Exporters have been advised by OIP not to ship goods till they have reached an arrangement with and received specific instructions from the relevant UN agency or itself, an official statement said in New Delhi on Wednesday.

Suppliers of goods under OFP have been divided into three categories including those whose contracts have been already identified as possible priorities by the US, contracts with goods already in transit and other goods to be considered as possible priorities.

OIP has also defined a list of priority items to be considered under the third category, which covers sectors like food, health, water, sanitation, education, agriculture and electricity supplies.

Permanent Mission of India has taken up a list of 22 Indian companies whose goods have been shipped but not yet added to the priority list, it said.