Work permit allowed for working-doing business in India
India has the potential to reach $100 billion of combined exports in the Food & Beverage (F&B), agriculture and marine products industries in the next five years, says Minister of Commerce & Industry Piyush Goyal.
“The target is not very ambitious as the industries need to grow at a combined rate of 14-15%,” he said during an interaction with the F&B industry stakeholders on the sidelines of Indusfood 2025 on 10 Jan in New Delhi https://fieo.org/.
The Minister said that the success of the 8th edition of Indusfood 2025 is a matter of great satisfaction for the Government and complimented Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) and Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) for organising the event.
He added that both the organisations have played a crucial role in India exporting US$50 billion of goods last year.
The Minister also informed that the Government has allowed 100% Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the F&B sector – 100% foreign investment, foreign ownership, foreign management are allowed.
The Government also allows work permits easily for those who want to work or set up businesses in India, he added.
The Minister urged the Indian companies to invest in innovation, in better packaging, in sustainability, to mechanise their processes to make them more hygienic and encouraged the stakeholders present to bring out high-value products on nutrition that can be used by the Government for its food security programmes in the country https://sbi.com.in/.
On promoting sustainability in the food industry, Goyal highlighted that the Government is prioritising to make farming processes sustainable and is working to promote organic farming and food products.
There is a tremendous growth potential in organic farming and the Government has eased certification processes for organic foods while maintaining the sanctity and traceability to ensure no irregularities creep in the system, he noted https://www.nseindia.com/.
He urged industry stakeholders to travel to other parts of India to acquire ideas on the varied tastes and flavours the country has to offer and hoped that the Indian F&B industry and its partners will continue to innovate and bring global standards in the country and take Indian products to the world https://www.bseindia.com/.
Sharing that pre-packaged, ready-to-eat foods from India have also found success abroad, the Minister noted millets, pickles and spices have found traction across the world as more pre-packaged foods are finding markets both in India and internationally.
Indusfood was launched by the Trade Promotion Council of India, with the support of the Department of Commerce, Government of India in 2017.
It was conceptualised as an export focused trade fair, which aimed to provide an unprecedented platform for Indian F&B companies to showcase their products, network with leading international importers, distributors and retail chains, explore business opportunities and fuel their international expansion. It also provided international importers a one-stop platform to connect with diverse suppliers across product categories, simplifying their sourcing from India.
Indusfood 2025 featured 1,800 exhibitors from over 20 countries, with an expansive exhibition space of more than 80,000 square metres. The event attracted over 5,000 international buyers from 180+ countries and over 100 supermarket chains and e-retailers, making it a key platform for global business connections.
It also witnessed participation from 35 international chefs and 100 Indian delegates. With a diverse international audience, the show offered Indian food companies a unique opportunity to expand their reach beyond just the Indian diaspora and tap into native populations in global markets. Fiinews.com
