Union Minister Chirag Paswan Chairs Industry Roundtable Meet in Patna

Patna:  Union Minister of Food Processing Industries, Chirag Paswan, chaired an Industry Roundtable Meet today with industry leaders and micro-entrepreneurs from the food and allied sectors in Patna, Bihar. In his address, Paswan emphasized his commitment to the upliftment of farmers and expressed his desire to expand the food processing sector within his home state.

Paswan highlighted the significant role the food processing sector can play in elevating India’s economic status. He underscored the importance of Bihar, noting its large population of farmers, and suggested that the state could be pivotal in advancing the food processing industry.

Discussing the agricultural produce of the region, Paswan shared his vision of transforming the food processing sector into a major employment provider by establishing numerous processing units across Bihar and India. He encouraged all states, including Bihar, to actively participate in World Food India 2024, a flagship event of the Ministry of Food Processing Industries, scheduled to take place from September 19-22, 2024, in New Delhi. He described the event as a unique gathering of manufacturers, producers, investors, policymakers, and organizations from the global food ecosystem.

Expressing satisfaction with the significant industry participation in the meeting, Paswan reiterated that food processing is essential for achieving food security and prosperity. Over 300 participants from Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), Self-Help Groups (SHGs), and the industry attended the meeting, presenting their policy suggestions.

During the interaction, the Minister addressed the participants’ concerns and noted their feedback. He assured that the industry’s input would be communicated to the relevant departments of the Ministries and promised ongoing support for Bihar’s development from the Ministry of Food Processing Industries.

Minhaj Alam, Additional Secretary of the Ministry, outlined the journey of World Food India and its role in positioning India as an emerging hub in the global food processing industry.

This meeting, the first of its kind in the region this year, was organized by the Ministry of Food Processing Industries in association with the PHD Chamber of Commerce.