States must utilise World Food India programme to boost food processing

Food Processing Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal Friday said state governments should utilise the upcoming World Food India programme to boost the food processing sector in their states.

Badal was speaking at a meeting with Members of Parliament (MPs) here.

The World Food India event will be held during November 1-4 in the national capital as part of the government's effort to boost investment into this growing sector. This will be the second edition of World Food India, with first one held in 2017 that saw the participation of 61 countries and signing of MoUs worth USD 14 billion.

The minister asked MPs to spread awareness about this programme to be held in November this year.

"World Food India is not just an opportunity for the Center but also a big platform for state governments to push food processing sectors in their states," Badal said in an official statement.

The minister said that during the previous edition of World Food India in 2017, many states did brisk business and signed memorandums of understanding (MoUs) with international companies.

To promote this idea, she said the ministry will hold road shows in the states.

The MPs were invited by the ministry to spread awareness of the upcoming mega event World Food India 2019.

Badal sought assistance of the MPs in sourcing information on raw material clusters from their respective constituencies and what industries could be set up there.