Chief Minister Raman Singh invited entrepreneurs to invest in Food Processing sector of Chhattisgarh while on a visit to the Chhattisgarh Pavilion at ‘World Food India 2017’ in New Delhi on Friday.
He also interacted with a number of investors to explore investment possibilities for the State.
Notably, Chhattisgarh Government had earlier received an invitation from the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) on behalf of Union Ministry of Food Processing Industries, officials informed.
The State Government had agreed to participate with a grand presentation in the event.
A global event to facilitate partnerships between Indian and international businesses and investors, World Food India (WFI) is a gateway to the Indian food economy and an opportunity to showcase, connect, and collaborate, officials informed.
Organised by the Ministry of Food Processing Industries, the event will be the largest gathering of investors, manufacturers, producers, food processors, policy makers, and organisations from the global food ecosystem.
It aims to provide opportunities for both investment and trade in the food processing sector for leading Indian and international companies. Encompassing the entire food spectrum from production to consumption, WFI is looking at creating a better sourcing environment, thereby enabling higher returns for farmers, creating employment, and fostering entrepreneurship.
World Food India intends to establish global linkages and facilitate foreign investment in India’s US$ 915 billion farm-to-fork ecosystem that services the needs and rising aspirations of the country’s 1.3 billion consumers.
The World Food India delegation generated huge excitement among the business community of Chhattisgarh during the Roadshow organised here on August 4 this year .
The Roadshow was organised by the Union Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) in collaboration with CII '.
The Roadshow was attended by Minister of Commerce & Industries, Government of Chhattisgarh, Amar Agrawal, the then Additional Chief Secretary, Department of Commerce and Industries, Government of Chhattisgarh, N Baijendra Kumar, and other senior officials from the State Government as well as Vijaya Kumar Behera, Economic Advisor, Union Ministry of Food Processing Industries, a CII. More than 200 business persons and industrialists attended the World Food India Roadshow.
Notably, ‘World Food India 2017’ is a platform for showcasing the food processing strength of India and an opportunity to connect with international and Indian key players in food processing and allied sectors.
Addressing the dignitaries and the business community of Chhattisgarh, Minister of Commerce & Industries, Government of Chhattisgarh Amar Agrawal said “Country’s progress is not possible without empowering farmers. WFI is the step towards supporting and uplifting farmers and together as a Nation we are working to make the vision of Prime Minister of “Make In India” into a reality”.
World Food India will provide a platform to showcase offerings and Services along the food value chain which includes production,
processing, packaging,
technology, equipment, storage, logistics or retail. 80 international food companies have confirmed their participation at World Food India. Also, 30 CEOs of international food companies will attend the
CEO Roundtable at World Food India.
The representatives present at the Roadshow included Agro products, beverages, fisheries, dairy, organic and health food, Farmer Producer Organisations, Progressive farmers and food, industry associations and academia.
As many as 22 food processing units in Chhattisgarh received total Central assistance of Rs 2.48 crores during the last financial year (2015-16), officials informed.
The funds were received by the food processing units under the scheme for Technology Upgradation, Establishment and Modernisation exercises.
It may be recalled that the Central government is making all out efforts to draw Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) under its ‘Make In India’ programme for drawing investment in the Mega Food Park being set up in Chhattisgarh's Dhamtari district in an area of 68.68 hectares.
In a section titled “Projects Ready for Procurement in FY 2016-17” in its “Make in India Investment Book”, which had been circulated in Indian Missions abroad, the Centre had mentioned that work on the project started in 2015 with the anticipated project completion time line of 2018-19.
It mentioned that the Mega Food Park intends to provide modern infrastructure facilities for the food processing units along the value chain from farm to market.