National Conclave on Indian Food Processing sector by IACC

Chennai, September 18, 2014: The National Conclave on the Indian Food Processing sector was organised by Indo- American Chamber of Commerce (IACC), on Thursday, at Hotel Hyatt Regency, Chennai.
C Suresh Reddy, Chairman – Tamil Nadu, IACC, welcomed the Union Minister, Harsimrat Kaur Badal, Dr.U.Venkateswarulu, Joint Secretary to the Ministry and the delegates to the National Conclave conference. In his welcome address the Chairman mentioned the contribution of food industry to the country’s GDP and the importance of food processing sector in the India. With immense potential for further growth, both in the domestic and export markets, he suggested the immediate need for the stakeholders to come together in taking the industry to the next level.  He thanked the Ministry of Food Processing Industry (MOFPI), APEDA and MPEDA for supporting IACC in organising this conference.
The National President, IACC, Chella K Srinivasan appreciated the new Government initiatives and expected that it will change the food processing industry scenario in the near future and the proposed Prime Minister’s visit to the US is expected to increase the bilateral relationship between the two countries.
ShankerGopalkrishnan, Chairman, National Conclave, IACC gave an overview of the programme and mentioned that the conference is planned to address the key issues of the various stakeholders of the food processing industry.  
The Chief Guest the Union Minister for Food Processing Industries, GoI Harsimrat Kaur Badal, in her Keynote address mentioned that with increase in population, food consumption in the country has increased multi-fold and with land area for agriculture shrinking, the need to grow more in lesser land has been a big challenge to the industry. Some of the key issues that need immediate attention is poor infrastructure bottleneck, resulting in higher wastage of perishable food products and in turn is adding to the inflation.
The Minister mentioned that the Food Processing Ministry is working towards making food available at affordable prices to all strata of the Indian population. Uplifting farmers, skill development, keeping inflation under control are some of the key focus areas of the food processing Ministry.   
The Government has allocated Rs. 2000 crore for the food processing industry and loans are being provided at subsidised rates through NABARD. For instance, the duty has been reduced from 10% to 6% for importing machinery for the food processing sector.
Within the food processing sector, fruits and vegetables are of prime focus as the export market for these is immense and USA has been the key destination for several years now.
The Minister added that the Government of India has a scheme for setting up Mega Food Parks and invited entrepreneurs from Tamil Nadu to take advantage of the same.
The minister welcomed views and ideas for promoting the food processing industry from the various stakeholders of the supply chain.
In his vote of thanks, A. Sekhar, Vice-Chairman, IACC, Tamil Nadu, thanked the Minster for her encouraging words and assured that the Minister’s suggestion will be discussed with various stakeholders.
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