At 20%, Gujarat got highest share of investments in food processing

Investment share of other states included that of Andhra (14%), Karnataka (13%), Maharashtra (9%) and West Bengal (6%), among others

Of the total investments worth over Rs 82,940 crore attracted by food processing sector as of December 2014, Gujarat attracted the highest share at 20 per cent, industry body The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) stated.

The state accounted for 20 per cent of investments by both public and private food processing sources amounting to over Rs 16,570 crore. What's more, the private sector accounted for over a whopping 97 per cent of the total investment attracted in Gujarat.

"Besides, Gujarat also accounted for highest share of 21.5 per cent in the total outstanding investments worth over Rs 76,170 crore attracted by the food processing sector from private sector throughout India," ASSOCHAM stated in its latest report.

However, investments attracted by Gujarat in food processing sector have marginally dipped by over six per cent i.e. from a level of about Rs 17,930 crore as of December 2012 it has dipped down to about Rs 16,570 crore as of December 2014, highlighted the analysis carried out by the ASSOCHAM Economic Research Bureau (AERB).

"Private sector accounted for over a staggering 97 per cent in the total outstanding investments attracted by the food processing sector in Gujarat and nationally the share of private sector was about 92 per cent. Investments attracted by food processing sector across India have increased significantly by about 28 per cent during the course of past two years i.e. from a level of about Rs 64,950 crore as of December 2012 to over Rs 82,940 crore as of December 2014," said Bhagyesh Soneji, chairperson, ASSOCHAM Gujarat Council.

Investment share of other states included that of Andhra Pradesh (14 per cent), Karnataka (13 per cent), Maharashtra (nine per cent) and West Bengal (six per cent), among others.

In terms of people engaged in food processing sector, Gujarat accounted for 5.4 per cent share in the total number of about 1.8 million people across India as of 2011-12. Of these, while food sector employed over 1.62 million people, over 140,000 people had been engaged in beverage processing sector.

Further, while Gujarat had over 96,200 people employed in registered food processing sector across the state, majority of which (over 93,100) were employed in food sector and the rest in beverage processing centers as of 2011-12, according to an analysis of the Government of India's Annual Survey of Industries.