Second edition World Food India 2023; PM noted how the food processing industry emerged as the sunrise sector in India

Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated on Friday, during the opening of the second iteration of "World Food India 2023," at Bharat Mandapam in the nation's capital, that investors from all over the globe benefit from India's culinary variety. The PM, addressing the three-day event, noted how the food processing industry has emerged as the “sunrise sector” in India.

The Prime Minister, speaking at the three-day event, mentioned how the food processing sector has become India's "sunrise sector" and has drawn FDI investments totaling around ₹50,000 crore in the last nine years. He also exhorted industry participants to concentrate on developing ways to lower losses following harvest and support environmentally friendly packaging techniques. FDI of ₹50,000 crore has been invested in this industry during the past nine years. The government's pro-farmer and pro-industry policies are to blame for this, according to Modi.

"The food industry is reaching new heights thanks to the government's investor-friendly regulations. Over the past nine years, India's capacity for food processing has increased significantly, resulting in a 150% increase in processed food exports. Additionally, the food processing industry's capacity has grown from a pitiful 12 lakh tonnes to more than 200 lakh tonnes. With an aggregate export value of more than 50,000 million USD in agricultural products, India is now ranked sixth.

He outlined some of the steps the central government has taken to promote the growth of the food processing industry, including the production linked incentive (PLI) scheme and mega food parks, and mentioned that investments totaling approximately ₹50,000 crore have been made to set up post-crop harvest related infrastructure projects under a central scheme (Agri Infra Fund).

Declaring that "Indian women have the natural ability to lead the food processing industry," Modi emphasised the contribution that women make to the industry.

In addition, he discussed the advantages of eating millets and advocated for the public distribution system to diversify its food basket. Millets are prepared to leave their impact on the international stage, just like yoga did. A global awareness campaign about millets has been launched at the initiative of India. 

2023 has been designated as the International Year of Millets by the UN.

The Prime Minister launched a "food street" and gave seed money support to more than one lakh (100,000) self-help groups (SHGs) at the function.

The goal of "World Food India 2023," which was also attended by Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food, and Public Distribution Piyush Goyal, is to commemorate 2023 as the International Year of Millets and present India as the "food basket of the world." The event's inaugural iteration took place in 2017, however the Covid-19 epidemic prevented further planning until this year.

The three-day event, which will end on November 5 in front of President Droupadi Murmu, is expected to include more than 80 nations, 200 speakers, and 12 partner ministries, departments, and commodities boards.