FMCG CEOs raise concerns over GST, ease of doing biz at World Food India

Executives discussed range of issues with ministers at World Food India event

Chief executives from over 100 fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG), food and agriculture companies on Thursday raised concerns over taxation dynamics, ease of doing business, and subsidies to the industry during a closed-door meeting with ministers.

The meeting was chaired by food processing industries minister Chirag Paswan and commerce minister Piyush Goyal at the World Food India event held at Bharat Mandapam. Ravneet Singh Bittu, minister of state for food processing industries, and Anita Praveen, secretary, food processing industries ministry, were also present at the meeting.

The executives also touched upon issues related to changes made to the production-linked incentive (PLI) schemes disallowing foreign ingredients, Goods and Services Tax (GST) norms, inverted customs duties, and misleading advertisements, among others.

“The motive of the roundtable was to give the industry a platform to express its concerns and suggestions to the government. There were several concerns related to ease of doing business and imports that were brought up. Departments concerned with these issues will now look to find a solution to these grievances raised by the industry,” Paswan told reporters after the meeting.

“The industry definitely has concerns about GST. I will relay their suggestions and the reasons for asking for a change in rates to the GST council. But, the final decision will have to come from the council,” he said.

While inaugurating the event earlier in the day, Paswan said the government was making efforts to boost growth in the food processing sector.