Food processing sector crucial to Indian economy: APCC(I)

Hyderabad, Jun 27 (UNI) President of the Andhra Pradesh Chamber of Commerce and Industgry (FAPCCI) Sudhir Sanghi said today the Food Processing Industry was crucial to the Indian economy as it brought multiple benefits to the nation.

Addressing an Interactive Session on ''Food Processing Industry; Using the Knowledge Drive for Public-Private Partnership'' organised by FAPCCI in association with the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India here today, he said the sector was employment intensive and consumed lot of human power.

He said it was a rural based industry which ensured balanced development among urban and rural areas. Indian Food Industry was fast undergoing several changes. The structural and economic challenges during the last few years due to liberalisation of National and Intrernational trade and coming into being of WTO would also contribute to the emerging scenario.

India was the home of spices and their value-added products had been basically an export strength in international trade, while the supplies had been marketed to a very large extent to the country only.

He said there was need for technology upgradation and product and process of optimizing to exacting demands, quality and presentation to international markets.

He said in developing the food processing industry, the private sector could create facilities like cold chain infrastructure. The potential of the sector was immense. The consumption of processed food was estimaterd at Rs.4,60,000 crore and it was growing at the rate of 15 to 20 percent annually.

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