Showcasing India and particularly Punjab as the areas to watch out for in respect of food processing sector, the Union Food Processing Industries Minister Mrs. Harsimrat Kaur Badal today held meetings in Paris during International Food Exhibition-SIAL 2016 with the heads of various top notch companies to look for extending co-operation in not only food processing but other sectors as diverse as Dairy and retail.The Union Minister interacted with Jagtar Nijjar of Gordon Food Service (USA), Jeff Colryut CEO of Colryut Group which is the biggest retail group in Belgium and Stephan Van Lent Export Manager, Thom Albers Managing Director of Freisland Campina Export(Netherland) – a leading company in dairy sector besides Alex Bongrain President of Savencia Fromage & Dairy- a reputed concern in dairy sector and Wilhelm Hubner , Managing Director, Groupe Auchan SA which is a French international retail group and multinational corporation. During the course of long ranging and comprehensive discussions on emerging core sectors of food processing, dairy and retail, it was decided by both sides to enhance the opportunities for exchange of expertise and investment opportunities in the sectors.
During her meetings with the top honchos of the companies said that in order to give impetus to the growth of the Food Processing Sector in India, the Food Processing Industries Ministry has approved 37 Mega Food Parks throughout India out of which three Mega Food Parks are in Punjab. Out of these three, first Mega Food Park at Fazilka has already become operational, while the other 2 would come up at Ladhowal in Ludhiana (promoted by Punjab Agro Industries Corporation Ltd.) and Kapurthala. She further disclosed that the bold initiative of allowing 100 percent FDI in multi brand retail with 100 percent local sourcing condition will enable greater foreign direct investment that will result in a faster growth for the sector in India.also said that the Mega Food Park at Ladhowal (Ludhiana) would be treated as a central processing centre and four primary processing centers-at Hoshiarpur, Amritsar, Fazilka and Bathinda would also be set up. She further said that this project would not only help the farmers, but would also generate job avenues for our youth. She also divulged that Ministry of Food Processing Industries has identified creation of modern infrastructure for food processing as a focus area and is giving push to the Mega Food Park Scheme in the country to give a major boost to the Food Processing Sector.