Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the second edition of the World Food India 2023 mega food event today at Bharat Mandapam, Pragati Maidan, in New Delhi. He also disbursed Seed Capital Assistance to over one lakh Self Help Group (SHG) members and emphasized the importance of women-led development in India.
In his address, the Prime Minister highlighted the significance of India’s food processing industry, calling it a “sunrise sector” that has attracted over ₹50,000 crore in foreign direct investment in the past nine years. He attributed this growth to the government’s industry-friendly and farmer-centric policies, as well as the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme, which has incentivized new entrants to the sector.
The Prime Minister also spoke about India’s remarkable progress in the food processing sector, citing the creation of the Agri-Export Policy, the development of nationwide logistics and infrastructure, and the significant increase in India’s food processing capacity. He also mentioned unique agricultural products being exported from India, such as black garlic from Himachal Pradesh, dragon fruit from Jammu & Kashmir, and soya milk powder from Madhya Pradesh.
Speaking about the importance of women-led development, the Prime Minister mentioned the promotion of cottage industries and self-help groups for women and the disbursal of seed capital to over 1 lakh women on the occasion.
In the context of global food security, the Prime Minister discussed India’s rich food diversity and cultural heritage, emphasizing the importance of sustainable food habits linked with Ayurveda. He stressed the need for the food processing industry to implement ancient knowledge for global food security. He also acknowledged 2023 as the International Year of Millets and encouraged discussions on increasing the use of millets globally.
The Prime Minister concluded his address by emphasizing sustainable agriculture, food security, and nutrition security, as highlighted in the G-20 Delhi declaration. He stressed the role of all partners in the food processing industry and urged the reduction of post-harvest losses through technology. He expressed confidence that the event’s conclusions will pave the way for a sustainable and food-secure future globally.
On the first day of World Food India 2023, a total of 16 Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) were signed between the Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) and various industry entities. These agreements amounted to a total investment of around ₹17,990 crore. Notable companies participating in these MoUs included Mondelez, Kellog, ITC, Innobev, Nedspice, Ananda, General Mills, and Ab Inbev, among others.
The Ministry of Food Processing Industries, Government of India, organized a Roundtable discussion on the inaugural day of World Food India 2023 . The event was co-chaired by Union Minister Pashupati Kumar Paras , Ministry of Food Processing Industries and Union Minister Piyush Goyal , the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, and Textiles. The Roundtable brought together senior government officials and CEOs from over 70 leading companies operating in the food processing and allied sectors. The discussions in the Roundtable primarily revolved around topics such as ease of doing business, investment and sourcing interests, and gathering industry insights on the existing gaps in the value chain within the Indian Food Processing Sector.The event, except for the food street, is open for visit without any entry fee.
