Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, inaugurate a mega-event World Food India 2017 in the New Delhi on Friday. The three day-international mega food event will have Germany, Japan and Denmark as the Partner Countries, in addition to Italy and Netherlands as the Focus Countries.
India is expected to attract an investment of $10 billion in food processing sector and generate 1 million jobs in the next 3 years, the government had said in a statement on Thursday.
The event, organised by Food Processing Industries (FPI) ministry, aims to transform the country's food economy and realize the vision of doubling of farmers’ income by establishing India as a preferred investment destination and sourcing hub for the global food processing industry.
It would also host sessions including one on “'One Nation, One Food Law - an enabling regulatory environment for investment in the food sector”. The event's objective is also to strengthen India’s position as a Global Food Factory and make the country 'food secure', the government said in a statement.
On November 1, the FPI ministry and the FSSAI, the apex Regulatory body for Food Safety in India, had launched a new tool called ‘the Food Regulatory Portal.’ Planned as a single interface for food businesses to cater to both domestic operations and food imports, the portal is expected to be a game changer for effective and transparent implementation of the food safety laws in the country. Aiming to create an enabling environment for businesses to operate, the portal is strategically aligned with Government’s mission of 'One Nation, One Food Law.
World Food India 2017 will host over 2,000 participants, over 200 companies from 30 countries, 18 ministerial and business delegations, nearly 50 global CEOs along with CEOs of all leading domestic food processing companies, and representatives of 28 States in India.
As part of the event, a massive exhibition spread over 40,000 sq mtrs in the lawns of India Gate is being organised to attract significant footfalls. More than 800 global companies representing 22 countries and domestic companies will be exhibiting. There will be special focus on farmer producer organizations and women entrepreneurs to connect them to corporates – international and Indian - to increasing opportunities for sourcing and business, the government said. It will also provide an exciting view of India’s offering to the world in terms of products, a geo mapping of produce availability and mega food parks.
As per the government, the list of Industry Captains participating in the event includes Paul Bulcke, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Nestle, Pieter Boone, Chief Operating Officer & CEO, Metro Cash and Carry, Brian J McNamara, CEO, GSK Consumer Healthcare, Amanda Sourry, President, Food Unilever; Sharafuddin Sharaf, Al – Sharaf Group; Yusuff Ali, Managing Director, LuLu Group, Kishore Biyani, CEO, Future Group; Krish Iyer, CEO, Walmart India and Amit Agrawal, CEO, Amazon, India. Over 1000 B2B meetings are expected to take place over three days. International Ministerial & business delegations with 200+ members from 15 countries will take part in B2B/B2G meetings.