Minister invites global groups to World Food India 2025
Global players like LuLu Group (UAE), SARTAJ (Japan), Datar & Sons, (UAE) and Global Foods Trading (Germany) were among 70 buyers from 20 countries, including six global retail chains at the International Buyer Seller Meet (IBSM) held 19-20 May 2025 in Patna.
The participants explored large-scale procurement of rice, spices, makhana, and fruits from Bihar which Royal Golden Trading (UAE) and UVR Natural Foods (India) have also announced concrete sourcing plans.
This reaffirms Bihar’s emergence as a trusted sourcing hub under the proactive efforts of the Ministry of Food Processing Industries https://www.nseindia.com/.
With over 400 curated B2B meetings, the event generated new market linkages, boosted procurement opportunities for local MSMEs and FPOs, and translated Bihar’s agri-strengths into export success, said the Ministry on 19 May https://www.bseindia.com/.
The Ministry in partnership with Agricultural & Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), Trade Promotion Council of India (TPCI), and Government of Bihar, organised the event for key stakeholders from the food and allied sectors to promote trade, strengthen exports, and unlock Bihar’s agri-food potential.
The inaugural session was graced by Minister of Food Processing Industries Chirag Paswan. He was joined by Vijay Kumar Sinha, Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar, Nitish Mishra, Industries Minister of Bihar and other senior officials from the MoFPI, APEDA, TPCI, and Bihar Government.
Mishra said in his keynote address, “Bihar has the potential to become the growth engine of East India.”
He also highlighted the presence of a Mega Food Park at Muzaffarpur and encouraged investors to leverage Bihar’s industrial infrastructure, pointing out that investor-ready ecosystem and the proactive allotment of land within 7 days through the ‘Single Window Clearance System’.
Minister Chirag Paswan pointed out that the International Buyer Seller Meet is not just a trade event, it is a turning point for rural prosperity https://sbi.com.in/.
Chirag Paswan informed the delegates that, in the financial year 2024–25, his Ministry has sanctioned a record 10,270 loans worth Rs.624.42 crore under the Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) Scheme to micro food processing units in Bihar, the highest for any state in the country.
He emphasized that this achievement is not a coincidence, but the result of the Government’s focused push to translate the vision of Viksit Bihar into ground-level impact. It reflects both the Ministry’s resolve to strengthen rural enterprise and the resounding trust that Bihar’s micro-entrepreneurs have placed in the policies of the Government.
The Minister also extended a warm invitation to all stakeholders to participate in World Food India 2025, the Ministry’s flagship global event to be held 25-28 Sept 2025 for showcasing India’s strength and opportunities in food processing to the world.
He also launched a strategic report titled “Strategies to Boost India’s Makhana Exports”, underscoring Bihar’s leadership in this unique GI-tagged product https://fieo.org/.
Significantly, 12 companies announced procurement commitments for rice, pulses, spices, fruits, vegetables, and makhana from Bihar—marking a breakthrough in long-term sourcing partnerships with countries. The session concluded with a vote of thanks by the Chairman, TPCI, who praised the collaboration between the central and state governments and expressed optimism about the investment and export momentum generated by the event.
The Bihar International Buyer-Seller Meet 2025 serves as a key platform for strengthening Bihar’s position in India’s food processing and agri-export landscape. Over the course of two days, the IBSM will feature curated B2B engagements, technical capacity-building sessions, and an exhibition showcasing Bihar’s vibrant food processing ecosystem and value-added product offerings. The event is expected to catalyse partnerships, attract investments, and open new avenues for economic development of the state. Fiinews.com
