'Reduce power rates for Food Processing Industries', Union Minister to State Govts

Chairing the second edition of the investment forum by Invest India for Food Processing Sector, Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal emphasized on the necessity to popularise superfoods of India and advised states to share most popular and nutritious local food which could be branded and marketed through big retailers in foreign countries to target Indian diaspora. Union Minister also urged the states to reduce power rates for Food Processing Industry, especially cold chain units at par with agricultural rates.

New Delhi:The second edition of investment forum by Invest India for Food Processing Sector was chaired by Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal. This series was in continuation with the first investment forum held on June 22. Senior policymakers from union government and 6 state governments - Bihar, Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu participated in the meeting. 193 companies from 19 countries also participated in the forum.

Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal emphasized on the necessity to popularise superfoods of India and advised states to share most popular and nutritious local food which could be branded and marketed through big retailers in foreign countries to target Indian diaspora. She also advised all investors to look at Ready to Eat (RTE) segment as a potential opportunity.

Harsimrat Kaur Badal was of opinion that challenges like falling trade, unavailability of the required number of workers comp wastage of perishable except during lockdown need to be converted into opportunities by establishing new normal in food industry. She requested participants to follow the clarion call of the prime minister to become 'Atma Nirbhar' and be 'Vocal for local'. These countries are now looking at India as sourcing hub as compared to traditional ones from where they were importing earlier and it is time to ensure that industry works at full potential.

Union Minister also urged the states to reduce power rates for Food Processing Industry especially cold chain units at par with agricultural rates. She concluded her remarks by advising states to work together with the union government to take this sector at a global level.

Minister of state for food processing Rameshwar Teli thanked participants for joining investment forum and informed that central and state governments are taking strong policy decisions for all investors to take advantages of increasing growth opportunities in Indian food processing sector.

Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman had rolled out a scheme to help Microfood Enterprises, Farmer Producer Organisations, self-help group and Cooperatives. She had also announced scheme worth rupees 10,000 crore for Food Processing sector which will be implemented on the lines of Prime Minister's 'Vocal for local with Global outreach' to help two lakh Microfood Enterprises and improve income in key focus areas.