Amul to invest Rs 250 crore in Odisha’s dairy sector

BHUBANESWAR: The State Government received several investment proposals in  the food processing sector, including an investment intent of `250 from Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF) at the World Food India 2017 meet in New Delhi on Saturday.Announcing the intent of GCMMF at a seminar on ‘Opportunities for Food Processing in Odisha’ held on the sidelines of world meet, Managing Director of the federation RS Sodhi said Odisha is the second biggest market for Amul in India. Currently, there is a supply gap of 30 lakh litres per day of milk in the State.

During his interaction with the Odisha delegation, Managing Director of Keventer Agro Ltd Mayank Jalan also expressed interest to set up a unit for maize processing, promote banana cultivation and set up a food processing laboratory in the State.Similarly, Tata Global Beverages Ltd also shortlisted Odisha as the potential location for setting up a tea packaging unit over 20 acres of land with an investment of `40 crore. The proposed unit has a potential to generate employment for 400 people.

AGT Foods, along with their co-promoters based in Canada also expressed their interest to make an investment of `250 crore near Paradeep food processing unit.ITC along with its subsidiary Technico Technologies indicated to expedite setting up of their food plant at Khurda. Representatives of Kijalk Agro Pvt Ltd, TCS, Godrej Tyson, Food from India Exim, Impeccable Innovations expressed their interest to invest in the State.

Managing Director of INDO-Nissin Foods Gautam Sharma spoke about their plans to expand the capacity of its existing plant to 12 tonnes per day.Presiding over the seminar Minister for MSME Prafulla Samal said food processing is a focus sector for the State. In order to promote food processing industry, the State Government has formulated a dedicated Food Processing Policy, developed mega food parks at Deras and Rayagada and single window facilitation for investors.

Additional Chief Secretary (MSMEs) LN Gupta made a presentation on the opportunities for food processing industry in Odisha. With 10 agro climatic zones and 480-km coastline coupled with surplus production of cereals, rice and vegetables, the state offers an enormous opportunity for food processing industry, he said.