The CII National Committee on Food Processing has prompted several perceptive policy and infrastructural reforms in the food processing industry in the last fiscal. The reforms, front-ended by Mr Piruz Khambatta are set to bring in investments of Rs 1 lakh crore into the food processing sector.
With the importance Finance Minister laid on the food processing and agricultural sectors this Financial Budget 2006-07, the food processing industry is slated to create 40 million employment opportunities every year.
Mr Khambatta, post his re-appointment on Monday as Chairman of CII National Committee on Food Processing is aggressively working towards tapping into this tremendous employment potential offered by the industry and improve the quality of life especially for rural India.
Speaking on his re-appointment Mr Khambatta highlighted the relevance of the industry to the Indian economy, “Indian Food Industry operates for the double-sided benefit of Indian economy, by processing the perishable agricultural products to reduce wastage and provide impetus to the consumer demand by making the products available throughout the year. I am a great believer that India can become the Global Food factory”.
Adding further, Mr Piruz Khambatta said, “The committee is aiming at bringing the food industry in the prime sector for it will catapult rural India as IT did to urban India. Even though we are the largest producers of milk and second largest in fruits and vegetables, our processing and value addition is at a dismal rate of 7%. India has the potential and we will harness it to its fullest. This year we will extend a special focus on marketing activities abroad. Towards this, the committee has stepped up the spent for promotional and brand-building activities in order to attract international buyers/ investors interest.”
{{/usCountry}}Adding further, Mr Piruz Khambatta said, “The committee is aiming at bringing the food industry in the prime sector for it will catapult rural India as IT did to urban India. Even though we are the largest producers of milk and second largest in fruits and vegetables, our processing and value addition is at a dismal rate of 7%. India has the potential and we will harness it to its fullest. This year we will extend a special focus on marketing activities abroad. Towards this, the committee has stepped up the spent for promotional and brand-building activities in order to attract international buyers/ investors interest.”
{{/usCountry}}Mr Khambatta’s four-pronged strategy - ‘Food first, Consumer first, Food policy first and Brand first’ fuelled tremendous growth in demand and hence supply in the food industry.'