''Indian wines can be promoted from Goa''

Panaji, Jan 29 (PTI) Indian wines can be promoted fromGoa given that a large number of foreign tourists arrive here,a senior bureaucrat said today.

"Goa can be a good place to promote Indian wines becauselarge number of foreign tourists arrive here," Ashok Sinha,Secretary, Union Ministry of Food Processing (MOFP) told aconference.

Addressing a seminar on food processing organised by GoaChamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), Sinha said that Goacan be a platform to showcase wines as Indian wines ratherthan branding them in the name of various companies addingthat the wine industry has been growing by 25 to 30 per centannually.

The secretary also stated that cleanliness and foodsafety practices in Goa can help the country brand itself as afood destination.

"Large number of foreigners who visit Goa can beambassadors of our food culture if there is cleanliness andsafety concept in the food processing industry," he saidadding that the industry has a challenging job ahead on thecleanliness and safety front.