World Food India 2017 proves instrumental in showcasing opportunity in food processing sector: President Ram Nath Kovind

New Delhi, Nov 6 (KNN) Addressing the Valedictory session of World Food India 2017, President Ram Nath Kovind said that “World Food India 2017 has helped showcase the ample opportunities India holds in the food processing sector.

India has opportunities across the entire food value chain – including post-harvest facilities, logistics, cold chains, and manufacturing which stakeholders both from India and abroad can now explore.

He further said that India’s food consumption is currently valued at US $370 billion and is expected to reach $1 trillion by 2025, in less than a decade and food industry could be a huge employer in coming years.

The flagship programme of the government – Make in India, Start-up India, Skill India, and Digital India would help the food-processing sector in India, President Kovind added

Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal informed that 50 MOUs worth $11.25billion has been signed in a span of three days and the WFI has also earned a Guinness book record in its name for cooking 918kg of the Khichadi.

She also said that States including Punjab and Haryana have also negotiated MoUs worth $2.5 billion and the Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MOFPI) would extend its full support in implementing those MoUs.

Delegates from over 60 countries participated in the three-day event. The President also distributed the start-up and Hackathon awards to college students who helped suggest ways of detecting food adulteration. (KNN/AG)