Food processing is a way of life in India and farmers are on ‘priority’ says PM Modi inaugurating World Food India-2017
New Delhi, November 3: And today the extravagant event ‘World Food India- 2017’ kicked off. Inaugurating the grand event Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke on the diversity we have in our Food culture. He said ‘Food processing is a way of life in India. It has been practised for ages. Simple, home-based techniques, such as fermentation, have resulted in the creation of our famous pickles, papads, chutneys and murabbas that excite both the elite and the masses across the world.’
Inaugurating the ‘World Food India- 2017’, PM Modi focused on ‘Make in India’ initiative. He said that Food processing industries is a priority sector in our ‘Make in India’ initiative.’ Lauding India’s rank in ‘Ease of Doing Business’, Modi said that India has jumped 30 ranks this year in the World Bank Doing Business rankings. India was ranked number 1 in the world in 2016 in Greenfield investment. India is also rapidly progressing on the Global Innovation Index, Global Logistics Index and Global Competitiveness Index.
Catering to farmers, PM Modi further said that ‘Our farmers are central to our efforts in food processing. Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana was launched to create world-class food processing infrastructure. This will leverage the investment of US $5 billion, benefiting 2 million farmers & create more than half million jobs.’
During the launch, India Post Office also launched stamps to commemorate World Food India. Union Cabinet Minister of Food Processing, Harsimrat Kaur welcomed the dignitaries present in the event. Extending warm welcome, Harsimrat Kaur said that we have received investment proposals for Rs. 65,000 Crore that would create more than 10 lakh jobs. World Food India will surely help transform the Indian food economy.
More than 200 global companies and 41 global CEOs from 30 countries will be participating at the event, the event will be receiving 21 ministerial / business delegations. Over 450 domestic companies and leading R&D institutes along with 95 Indian industry captains are participating in the event. Japan, Denmark and Germany are partner countries in the World Food India-2017 and Italy, Netherlands are 'Focus Countries'. Besides, business delegations have come from Poland, South Korea, Sri Lanka, UK, France, Netherlands, etc. In the WFI-2017, Utkal Chamber of Commerce, MITS Mega Food Park, Cashew Processors' Association, OMFED, Milk Mantra Dairy Pvt Ltd, Indo-Nissin Food Ltd, Anmol Biscuits, Magma Foods, Jay Bharat Spices, Jagannath Flour Mills, OM Oil and Flour Mills, Paris Bakery, KASAM and many other entrepreneurs from Odisha will participate.