4th International Summit cum Exhibition on Food Processing Agribusiness and Cold Chain organised in Delhi

Amit Kr Pandey, Nov 05,2012

The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) with support from Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India organised the one day "4th International Summit cum Exhibition on Food Processing, Agribusiness and Cold Chain" on November 5, 2012, at Hotel Le-Meridien, New Delhi.

The seminar was inaugurated by Shri Rakesh Kacker, IAS, Seceratary, Ministry of Food Processing Industries, GoI accompanied by Mr. P.K. Jain, Chairman and Managing Director, The Malt Company (India) Ltd., Mr. Pierre Lignot, French Trade Commissioner, Mr Karan Chechi, Research Director, TechSci Research and Mr. D.S. Rawat, Secretary General, ASSOCHAM.

The summit was organised with an objective to pay focus on processed food, agribusiness and cold chain in order to promote business opportunities and investments by providing a platform for networking in the country and enumerate policy recommendations for state and central governments through proper discussion.

Mr Karan Chechi on the occasion highlighted the growth of Agribusiness and Cold Chain in India for the past few years and said India is emerging as a global market for agribusiness.

Shri Sanjeev Chopra, IAS, Joint Secretary Ministry of Food Processing Industries, GoI was also present during the occasion and discussed told about the growth India has been making in the field of horticulture. He laid emphasis on promoting horticulture in the country and said we need to increase horticulture practices in order to promote Agribusiness and agriculture in the country.

Shri Rakesh Kacker during the occasion discussed about the role of government in enhancing agriculture, agribusiness and food processing in the country and told about the various plans of government for the same. He also told that Agriculture and Food Processing Industries Minister Sharad Pawar will inaugurate a world-class institution in the food processing sector - called NIFTEM - at Kundli, Haryana, on November 7.

NIFTEM or the National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management has been conferred deemed university status. The institute has begun its first academic session this summer. It will confer B. Tech. (Food Technology and Management), M. Tech. and Ph. D. in the area of Food Technology and Management, he added.

ASSOCHAM also released a Knowledge paper during the occasion on Food Processing, Agribusiness and Cold Chain.

The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) has been continuously involved in promoting Food Processing, Agribusiness and Cold Chain in the country and has already adopted two districts each in Bihar, West Bengal and Orissa in association with government of India – UNIDO and respective state governments for the same.

Recently, the chamber has also announced that it would soon identify two districts for setting up"food processing parks" in consultation with the Punjab Government.

The summit was followed by Technical session by the by the senior government and industry officials, which will discuss 'Cold-Chain Applications: Challenges and Technology' and 'Emerging Market Scenario: Changing Food Basket and Space for Value Addition'.

A number of companies also set up their stalls during the summit to provide information and consultancy on Food Processing, Agribusiness and Cold Chain.