Hon’ble Minister for Food Processing Industries, Smt. Harsimrat Kaur Badal today inaugurated the India Pavilion at GulFood 2016, Dubai. Smt. Badal took a tour of the fair and interacted with the Indian exhibitors and urged them to make use of the platform of GulFood 2016 for facilitating tie ups between foreign investors and accelerate the pace of export of food products from India to the western market. She was accompanied by a delegation of entrepreneurs from Mega Food Parks, Cold Chains, All India Food Processors Association, Chambers of Commerce and representatives from state governments. Later in the day while delivering the key note address in the Food and Beverage Business Forum of the GulFood Conference 2016, Hon’ble Minister appreciated the organisers and the Food Industry for showcasing latest trends and innovations in the Food and Beverage Sector.
Smt. Badal said that India and UAE has historic economic, political and cultural links and at present, UAE is second largest export destination for India’s exports and third largest trading partner with current bilateral trade at a level of US$ 60 Billion. She informed that the Food Processing Sector in India being a sunrise sector is poised for exponential growth and has emerged as a high growth sector due to its immense potential for value addition, ability to control inflation and ensure remunerative prices to farmers. Smt. Badal also informed the delegates that India is a huge and promising market with 1.2 billion population, increasing purchasing power, adequate availability of raw materials, availability of young and skilled manpower and a number of fiscal incentives that are being offered by the Indian Government for encouraging investments in this sector. A number of steps have been taken to improve the environment of ease of doing business under the “Make in India” initiative of Hon’ble Prime Minister which focuses on making India a Global Manufacturing Hub.
Smt. Badal also said that food items are one of the major Indian exports to UAE. While India is rich in production of food grains, fruits, vegetables & milk but lacks in processing infrastructure whereas UAE has surplus funds and technology available to create such facilities but lacks in availability of raw material. This makes a win-win situation for both the countries and vast scope exists for larger cooperation in the field of food processing whereby UAE investors can come and "Make food products in India" for their own requirements as well as for export to other countries. Hon’ble Minister also stated that Food Regulatory Mechanism in India is moving from license regime to registration regime for ensuring ease of doing business and that the Government is committed to facilitating and encouraging investment in India into Food Processing Sector and providing an environment which is smooth, transparent and easy for investors wanting to start an enterprise in India. Hon’ble Minister highlighted the unique advantages offered by India alongwith supportive policy environment and exhorted investors from across the globe and UAE to invest in India in Mega Food Parks and Cold Chains and other food processing value chains, where ready infrastructure awaits them “As the time to invest and “Make in India” is NOW”.