700 food processing units set to enter UP

Lucknow, Jan 31 (UNI) Giving a major boost to the laggard food processing sector in Uttar Pradesh, around 700 units are being set up in the state.

Quoting recent official figures, Indian Industries Association (IIA) President Tarun Kumar Kheterpal said here today, 688 food processing units have registered online with the state government in this regard.

''IIA had developed a 'Single Table System' (STS) for online registration of companies. Later, STS was transferred to the state government for the registration of firms,'' he informed.

Apart from food processing, a number of companies have also evinced interest in engineering, IT and agricultural sector in UP and registered themselves with STS.

''However, food processing has topped this list, which points towards the potential in the food processing sector in UP,'' Mr Kheterpal noted.

He asserted in the times to come, UP would emerge as the major food processing hub in the country. ''This would also give the much needed impetus to agri and processed food exports from the state.'' IIA is a major industry body, catering primarily to small and medium scale industries in the state.

Meanwhile, the Association is organising UP's biggest Industrial Trade Fair in Lucknow from tomorrow.

About 250 stalls would showcase industrial products and information related to industry in the four-day event.

The fair has the active support of the UP department of horticulture and food processing and department of industrial development.

''In this fair, two expositions India Food Expo 2007 and UP Industrial Expo 2007 are being organised simultaneously this year,'' he informed.

Trade delegations from several countries, including the United Kingdom, Israel, Canada, Pakistan, Afghanistan and France have confirmed to visit the fair, which would be inaugurated by state PWD and Energy Minister Shivpal Singh Yadav tomorrow morning.

Mr Kheterpal added that IIA was holding talks with the Pradeshiya Industrial Corporation of UP (PICUP) to set up a permanent venue for holding such industry fairs and expositions in UP on the lines of New Delhi's Pragati Maidan.

''Such a venue is expected to come up in the next 3-4 yrs in Lucknow, which would give a major marketing platform to companies in the region,'' he reasoned.

UNI