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The union government has told states to share suggestions for the proposed mega food event in 2023.
The ministry of food processing industries plans to organize the mega food event in October next year.
On Saturday, an official statement said that the secretary for the ministry of food processing industries, Anita Praveen, on 8 December, chaired a roundtable interaction with resident commissioners.
The agenda of the roundtable was to apprise the ministry’s plan of action for the proposed Mega Food Event to states and union territories and discuss possible areas of collaborations.
“All States / UTs were requested to share feedback / suggestions to make the event a grand success. They were also requested to participate actively in the event, as well as support the Ministry in creating awareness, ensuring participation of senior policy makers, agri-food companies, FPOs / SHGs and all relevant stakeholders in the mega food event, " said the statement.
During the keynote address, secretary, FPI informed the resident commisioners that the mega event would be organized in October 2023 and is being envisaged on a much larger scale than the event earlier organised by the ministry.
“This event would be providing a platform for the States and UTs to showcase State / UT-specific opportunities, interact with global and domestic business leaders, suppliers, purchasers, and technology providers for collaborations, and generate investment & sourcing interests across the value chain of food processing and food retail sectors," it said.
The participants were also informed that as part of ‘International Year of Millets’, a series of activities are being planned by the ministry of food processing industries to create awareness about the many benefits of millets and millet based value-added products.
The statement noted that all the participating resident commissioners assured support to MoFPI in activities planned throughout the year 2023 and during the Mega Food Event 2023.
Some of the suggestions and feedback included requirements of focused campaigning of the mega food event as well as benefits of millets domestically & in international expos, organising district level summits in addition to planned summits and expos in State Capitals which would help in onboarding micro entrepreneurs, FPOs, SHGs, showcasing of traditional aspects, possible association with tourism industry for promotion of the mega event among others.
The Investment Facilitation Cell (Invest India) was advised to coordinate with the states and UTs for implementing the identified plan of action and ensuring necessary support to enable active participation of states and UTs.
Secretary, FPI urged all states and UTs to engage with the ministry for showcasing the strength of Indian food processing sector as well as actively participate in to avail the maximum benefits of the mega event, the statement said.