GUWAHATI, Aug 17 - The Union Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) today organised a World Food India Roadshow in the city.
The Guwahati Roadshow was attended by Union Minister of State of Food Processing Industries Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti.
Speaking on the occasion, Jyoti said that the Central government is planning to start 42 more food parks across the country and they are targeted for completion by 2019.
She also assured of all support to the State government in developing the food processing sector in Assam.
Jyoti also spoke about the benefits to the farmers of the �Kisan Sampada� scheme of the Central government, as well as to the food processing sector and corporate and business entities.
She said the scheme would benefit 20 lakh farmers and generate direct and indirect employment to at least 5.30 lakh people in the country by 2019-20.
Jyoti called upon stakeholders from Assam to take an active part in the forthcoming World Food India 2017 to be held in New Delhi on November 3-5.
Today�s event was also attended by State Minister for Industries and Commerce CM Patowary, besides senior officials from the Central and the State governments and representatives from the corporate sector.
In his address, Patowary said that the potential for growth of the food processing sector is very high in the north-eastern region.
He proposed holding of a �mega show� in near future, to be jointly organised by the State government and the Union Ministry of Food Processing Industries, to highlight the potentialities of the sector in Assam.
Patowary said such an event can garner participation from the leading food processing industries from across the country and also from abroad.
Jyoti, on her part, agreed to the proposal of Patowary.
Ravi Capoor, Additional Chief Secretary, Department of Industries & Commerce, requested the Union Minister to take an initiative for developing four additional food parks in Assam and said such an effort would eventually help Assam in securing an identity as a food processing state.
�Assam will take a pavilion in World Food India 2017,� Capoor said.
Today�s roadshow in Guwahati was part of a nationwide series of similar events being organised in the run-up to the World Food India 2017.
World Food India 2017 has been touted as a platform for showcasing the food processing strength of India and an opportunity to connect with international and Indian key players in food processing and allied sectors.
