Union minister for food processing industries Harsimrat Kaur Badal recently inaugurated the India Pavilion at Gulfood 2016, Dubai.
The minister took a tour of the fair and interacted with the Indian exhibitors and urged them to make use of the platform of the show for facilitating tie-ups between foreign investors and accelerate the pace of export of food products from India to the Western market.
She was accompanied by a delegation of entrepreneurs from Mega Food Parks, Cold Chains, All India Food Processors Association, Chambers of Commerce and representatives from state governments.
According to a release, Badal delivered the keynote address in the Food and Beverage Business Forum of Gulfood Conference 2016. She appreciated the organisers and the food industry for showcasing latest trends and innovations in the food and beverage sector.
Badal said that India and UAE had historic economic, political and cultural links and at present, UAE was the second-largest export destination for India’s exports and third -largest trading partner with current bilateral trade at a level of US$ 60 billion.
She informed that the food processing sector in India being a sunrise sector was poised for exponential growth and emerged as a high growth sector due to its immense potential for value addition, ability to control inflation and ensure remunerative prices to farmers.
Badal informed the delegates that India was a huge and promising market with 1.2 billion population, increasing purchasing power, adequate availability of raw materials, availability of young and skilled manpower and a number of fiscal incentives that are being offered by the Indian government for encouraging investments in this sector. A number of steps have been taken to improve the environment of ease of doing business under the “Make in India” initiative of prime minister which focusses on making India a global manufacturing hub.
She stated that food items were one of the major Indian exports to the UAE. While India is rich in production of food grains, fruits, vegetables & milk but lacks in processing infrastructure whereas UAE has surplus funds and technology available to create such facilities but lacks in availability of raw material. This makes a win-win situation for both the countries and vast scope exists for larger cooperation in the field of food processing whereby UAE investors can come and "Make food products in India" for their own requirements as well as for export to other countries.
The minister also stated that food regulatory mechanism in India was moving from licence regime to registration regime for ensuring ease of doing business and that the government was committed to facilitating and encouraging investment in India into food processing sector and providing an environment which was smooth, transparent and easy for investors wanting to start an enterprise in India.
She highlighted the unique advantages offered by India along with supportive policy environment and exhorted investors from across the globe and UAE to invest in India in Mega Food Parks and Cold Chains and other food processing value chains, where ready infrastructure awaits them “As the time to invest” and “Make in India” are now.
