Channelize resources to be global food basket, says Paswan
The Minister of Food Processing Industries Chirag Paswan has assured support for more and more entrepreneurs to enter the food industry, and channelize the resources for India to be a global food basket https://www.commerce.gov.in/.
“Now that we are food surplus, we all need to convert this volume into value. We all know the strength of the sector and the untapped potential of India to be the global food basket; the need is to now channelize the resources,” he said at the inauguration of Indusfood 2026 at Expo Mart, Greater Noida, on 8 Jan 2026.
Paswan said, “I am here to support and motivate you all. The mere fact that Government has a separate Ministry for the food processing sector underlines the importance accorded to the sector. “We are trying to be bridge between the government and industry http://mofpi.gov.in.”
He pointed out that schemes like PM Formalization of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME), Pradhan Mantri Kisan SAMPADA Yojana (PMKSY), National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management are helping both farmers and the industry.
He also said that National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management scope will be extended to cover more states.
Paswan continued, “Government is behind the food processing industry with unwavering support and will do anything for a supportive policy matter, such as ease of doing business https://www.bseindia.com/.”
The Minister informed that he took high GST rate on the food processing sector which got addressed through GST reforms and GST were reduced to lowest slab either to 5% or 0, which apparently helped create greater market access for the sector.
He also appealed to all brands to open their R&D centres in India, citing the huge diversity and has immense potential to introduce new variety on the global food platter https://www.nseindia.com/.
The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) has launched an initiative to support agri-food and agri-tech startups, aimed at promoting innovation and creating new export opportunities for young entrepreneurs.
The Indusfood 2026 brought together over 2,200 exhibitors from 30+ countries across 125,000 sq m, with 15,000+ buyers from more than 120 countries, integrating the entire F&B value chain in one ecosystem.
Jens Wolfgang Michel, CEO, Abu Dhabi Food Hub (KEZAD), emphasized India–UAE synergies, sustainable trade practices, and announced an MoU with Trade Promotion Council of India (TPCI) for the India–UAE Food Corridor.
India’s F&B exports stood at US$47.3 billion in 2024–25 with strong growth, while processed food exports reached US$7.9 billion, led by cocoa and related products. Fiinews.com
