SME Times News Bureau | 19 Feb, 2021
Minister of State for Ministry of Food Processing
Industries Rameswar Teli participated in the 4th edition of Emerging North
East event today in Guwahati as chief-guest, organized in partnership with
Government of Assam and ASSOCHAM.
The three-day long event, from
19th-21st February 2021, will have business conferences, and exhibitions
to provide a platform for various stakeholders to network and encourage
awareness of the industry.
Speaking at the event, Rameswar Teli, said that
the central government was fully committed to the growth of food processing
industry in the country.
He added that currently, Food Processing industry
engages around 1.93 million people in nearly 40,000 registered units with a
fixed capital of $32.75 billion and aggregate output of around $160 billion and
Government’s efforts are to increase it multi-fold.
The Minister noted that despite the pandemic,
last year the Government approved 134 food processing projects across various
states, including 21 agro-processing clusters, 47 cold chains and 43 food
processing units.
The projects are slated to create additional
agricultural produce processing and preservation capacity of 3.83 MMT per annum
and generate direct and indirect employment for more than 77,300 people.
Teli further stated that Union Budget for 2021-22
would help boost India’s overall competitiveness and capacities in the Food
Processing sector.
Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI)
has been making efforts to encourage investments across the value chain through
several schemes and is committed to support innovative ideas, and sustainable
solutions in the sector.
He invited industry members, start-ups and
citizens to come forward and join hands with the Government to work towards an
AtmaNirbhar Bharat.