The 6th edition of FICCI Foodworld India 2012 was inaugurated on Wednesday at Hyatt Regency in Mumbai.
While more than 300 delegates and 30 speakers participated in the global convention for food business and industry, the inaugural session kicked off with opening remarks on the food processing industry by Siraj A Chaudhry, chairman, Cargill India Pvt. Ltd.
Many keynote speakers both from government and industries shared their knowledge and spoke in detail about the food processing industry. They addressed the delegates about the various issues and challenges faced by the food processing industry. They also talked about the collaboration with various other industries for the growth of the food processing industry. Many Acts were discussed in detail.
J P Meena, joint secretary, ministry of food processing industries (MoFPI), Government of India, while addressing the delegates said, "Both industries and government need to work hand in hand for the growth of our food processing industry. There are many difficulties and challenges in the food industry but then it has to be sorted out for the growth. The policies are much more open than what it used to be earlier. I am happier with the industry than with the government schemes. Various schemes are been set up by the private investors which are really very attractive."
Pradyut Bordoloi, minister for industries and commerce, Assam, said, "The taste aspirations of Indians people are growing. The food and business industry has a very great future ahead. What we eat and when, how we shop, and how we share food are all changing at a fast rate. The packaged food market has witnessed strong annual growth for several years now, and this growth trend is likely to further accelerate in the light of ongoing shifts in the demographic, economic, cultural, regulatory and competitor landscape."
He added, "How can we ignore the agriculture industry. In fact agriculture industry and food processing industry co-exist with each other. India is specialised in the field of food processing. For the growth of the food processing industry consumer taste has to be taken into consideration."
Kailash Vijayvargiya, minister, horticulture and food processing, Madhya Pradesh, said, "Despite the recent recession in Europe, India was not affected at all. Our per capita GDP is set to rise at 7.4 per cent per annum in the next two decades and will almost create significantly higher consumption. With a domestic market of 1.2 billion people, there is clear potential for packaged food purchasing to continue on the trajectory of growth seen in recent years."
He added, "In fact there is a scope in the field of agriculture and food processing industries in India. We are making our presence felt in the global market. Madhya Pradesh is the second-largest in the world in the production of wheat. There is lot of scope in the fields of agriculture and food processing in Madhya Pradesh, but due to lack of branding, other states are taking advantage."
