Pitching for taking Indian food products global, Union Minister Chirag Paswan has said the Indian processed food sector has immense potential for growth in international markets.
Attending the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting, Paswan said that the food processing ministry assigned to him by Prime Minister Narendra Modi comes with significant responsibility.
"Our aim is to support our farmers while also strengthening the country’s food processing industry," Paswan said after arriving in Davos on Monday evening.
In an agriculture-dominated country like India, the food processing industry can play a crucial role in ensuring the economic progress of farmers, he added.
Referring to the prime minister's goal of making India a developed nation by 2047, Paswan said the food processing sector will play a significant role in achieving this target.
"Earlier, our farmers faced numerous post-harvest issues, but over the past decade, various new programmes have not only provided post-harvest support but also helped create many entrepreneurs in this sector," the minister noted.
"I'm speaking about the rural sector, not just tier-one or tier-two cities. I believe there are great opportunities for our food processing sector to expand internationally," he said.
Paswan, who has several bilateral meetings scheduled during the five-day WEF Annual Meeting ending on January 24, said the global appreciation of Indian flavours is well-known.
"For centuries, Indian spices have been renowned worldwide. From north to south and east to west, we have countless varieties that are now gaining international recognition," he said.
"At the same time, the demand for processed foods has been growing globally. Over the past decade, the export of processed foods has increased from 13-14 per cent to 23-24 per cent.
"This indicates enormous growth potential for this sector in the global market. I am working to ensure Indian brands receive international recognition," Paswan said.
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