Stakeholders' meet on food processing held in Guwahati

GUWAHATI: Under the aegis of Industries and Commerce Department, Government of Assam and the Ministry of Food Processing Industries, Government of India, a stakeholders' meet on food processing was held in Guwahati on Tuesday, stated a press release.

Speaking on the occasion, Union Minister of State for Food Processing Industries, Rameswar Teli said, "The Pradhan Mantri Formalization of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PM FME) scheme offers golden opportunities for micro food entrepreneurs to benefit from the Rs. 10,000 crore earmarked to be spent during financial year 2020-21 and 2024-25 in the country. It will surely address the challenges faced by the micro enterprises and to tap the potential of groups and cooperatives in supporting the upgradation and formalization of these enterprises."

Union Minister Teli further added that the new Central Sector Scheme – Pradhan MantriKisan SAMPADA Yojana -would result in creation of modern infrastructure including mega food parks, integrated cold chain and creation of backward and forward linkages. "It will not only provide a big boost to the growth of food processing sector in the country but also help in creating huge employment opportunities and enhancing the export of the processed foods," stated Teli, adding that mini food parks had already been sanctioned at Tinsukia, Sonitpur and Vijaynagar.

Addressing the stakeholders' meet, Industries and Commerce Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary said, "The agro-climatic conditions of the State favours growth of a variety of fruits, vegetables and spices which can contribute a lot for setting up of agro-processing industries in the State. Assam has a surplus of fruits and vegetables and has been exporting to Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Kuwait in the past few years. Even during to Covid-19 lockdown period, Assam exported consignments of vegetables to Middle-East countries."

Calling on the investors to invest in Assam, Minister Patowary laid out the locational advantage of Assam, business-friendly ecosystem, excellent incentives and subsidies under the North East Industrial Development Scheme (NEIDS) of Government of India and the State Industrial Policy. "Entrepreneurs working in the food processing sector can avail the facilities at the Mega Food Park at Tihu and the Food Processing Industrial Park at Chaygaon," said Patowary.

Ashok Kumar, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Food Processing Industries, Commissioner of Industries and Commerce, Pabitra Ram Khaund and other senior officials were present in the meeting.

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