SME Times News Bureau | 15 Jul, 2020
Union Minister for Food Processing Industries Harsimrat Kaur Badal addressed
the opening session of Digital Indo- Italian Business Mission on Food Processing'
held virtually on Wednesday under the two-day event, digital conferences, trade
fair and B2B meetings are being held.
Highlighting the role of food processing sector
in current scenario, the Union Minister said that with a shift in the industry
landscape, many food processing companies are attempting to diversify
and expand their product line-up.
She added that the versatile equipment that
can produce many different product types, allowing companies to increase their
output without major changes to their facilities will be the preference.
She emphasized that the Italian Food and
Equipment related companies therefore have much to look forward to the
Indian markets in order to expand their global outreach.
She added that India and Italy are natural
partners, when it comes to the Food Processing Industry and in European Union,
Italy has one of the largest Indian diaspora.
Badal emphasized on the role of India as a
potential market. She stressed upon the new era of opportunities in the food
processing sector with various segments emerging as the champion segments such
as ready to eat, frozen food, superfood, nutraceuticals etc.
Badal further shared that countries are looking
to re-align their supply chains and, India, also
known as the world’s fruit & vegetable basket, offers
ample opportunities for sourcing raw material. India also
offers one of the fastest growing market for finished
processed food products.
She said that our experience of handling
the pandemic shows that food Processing has emerged as a Champion
sector.
Speaking about the Digital Sectorial business
Mission, the Minister said that 23 Italian companies that are part of this
Digital Mission are having a virtual exhibition of their products &
services and would be having Business (B2B) Meetings with the
end users and other industry players in India.
She added that Meetings and the webinars would
be spread across the key areas – Fruits & Vegetables,
Cereals, Milk & Dairy processing, Packaging & Bottling and also there
would be opportunities for technical collaborations with the units located in
the Mega Food Parks. She further said that the engagement of the Associations
from both India and Italy will ensure that there is an institutional connect as
well.
She highlighted various opportunities offered by
MoFPI in the form of ready infrastructure such as Mega food parks, agri export
zones and industrial parks/estates/clusters/nodes.
She further shared details of schemes such as
PMKSY, PM FME and the recent announcements made under Aatmanirbhar Bharat
package.
The Minister concluded with best wishes to all
the participants from India and Italy, and for the successful outcome for the
event.
She said that India looks forward to partnerships
with Italy in the area of food processing, which shall further strengthen and
consolidate relations between our two countries.