Bhubaneswar: In a bid to attract investments in the food processing sector, the Odisha Government today organized an interactive session on food processing industries to attract entrepreneurs to set up food processing units in the State.
The interactive session was organized by the Industrial Promotion & Investment Corporation of Odisha (IPICOL) to enlighten potential investors and current stakeholders about the investment opportunities available in the state.
Addressing the gathering, Industries and MSME Minister Dibya Shankar Mishra said that the Food Processing Sector is one of the most promising sectors in the state of Odisha with a high potential to grow in the future.
With the country’s agro and food processing sector expected to reach a size of US $530 billion by 2020, Odisha has been facilitating the creation of an ideal business eco-system to make the state a hub in the eastern region, the Minister expressed.
Odisha is endowed with natural resources, long coastline and favorable climatic conditions for the production of a variety of agri-produce, fruits, vegetables and marine produce, he highlighted.
The Minister also invited the industry and entrepreneurs to invest in Odisha.
“The government will assist all the investors and industrialist to set up units in the state,” he said.
The state’s robust, dedicated and entrepreneur-friendly food processing policy and guidelines which make Odisha a favorable destination for investing in food processing sector were highlighted in course of the session.
Speaking on the occasion, Industries and MSME Secretary Hemant Sharma said, “With the availability of raw materials, 10 agro-climatic zones, agriculture resources, seafood, farming landscape, adequate cold storage capacity and easy connectivity to ASEAN region, Odisha has all the ingredients required for the food processing & seafood sector to flourish in the state.”
“We are further providing several subsidies to encourage investors to choose Odisha,” he added.
IPICOL managing director Nitin Jawale made a presentation on National Food Processing Policy Ecosystem emphasizing how the food processing industry is of enormous significance.
Jawale highlighted investment opportunities in food processing in sub-sectors such as fisheries, poultry, cereals, fruits and vegetables, nuts, spices etc and packaging of food products.