Bihar govt to boost food processing industry

The state government is planning to take food processing industry to villages of the Bihar. For this, the state government is also willing to offer additional help and subsidies to such investors.

"With agriculture still being the primary economic activity in the state, the state government will like the food processing sector to grow rapidly," said Naveen Verma, the Industrial Production Commissioner of the state government, "We have already announced several subsidies to promote this sector. The chief minister has also asked to focus on those regions, where raw material is easily available. If required, we will be ready to offer additional subsidies and help to investors, who want to set up their units in these areas." To help investor in selecting locations, the state government has agreed to make a resource map of Bihar.

"This map is going to be a great help for the investors," said Industry Minister Renu Kushwaha. She added, "It will help them in selecting those locations, where they can easily find raw material. We are leaving no stones unturned to attract investors to the state." She also underlined the achievements of the state government in the area of food processing. She commented, "Till date, we have received investment proposals of almost Rs. 6,000 crores. Out this amount, Rs, 800 crores have already been invested in the state. More than 150 food processing units are currently being set up in the state, which will employ more than 13,000 persons. 53 units have already begun their production, which includes biggies like Britannia, Parle and Anmol."

The state government is also planning to raise the subsidies for these units. The minister said some investors had raised the issue of raising the subsidy for food processing units from Rs 5 crores to Rs 10 crores.