Ministry of Food Processing industries to organize an international mega food event – ‘World Food India’ (WFI)

Ministry of Food Processing Industries is organizing the second edition of World Food India 2023 (WFI) from 3 to 5 November 2023, at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, for the benefit of the Indian Food Processing Industry through collaborations with and investments from global Stakeholders. The event is being organized as part of International Year of Millets 2023 activities and will have millet (Shree Anna), organic produce, and indigenous processed food as some of the focus areas.

Curtain Raiser Event to WFI 2023 was held on 10 March in National Media Centre, New Delhi, and was attended by a wide spectrum of representatives from the Press & Media, various Central Ministries/Departments, State Resident Commissioners & Embassies apart from senior officers of the Ministry. During the event, a promotional video, publicity brochure & a dedicated website for WFI 2023 was launched by Pashupati Kumar Paras, Union Minister of Food Processing Industries, Govt of India, and Prahlad Singh Patel, Union Minister of State for Food Processing Industries and Jal Shakti, Govt of India.

Addressing the event, Pashupati Kumar Paras, Union Minister of Food Processing Industries, Govt of India, emphasized that India is one of the fastest-growing economies with many investment opportunities, especially in the food processing sector. He outlined five pivotal elements of the WFI 2023 as Millets- Shree Anna-The Super Food of India, Innovation and Sustainability, Green Food, and White Revolution 2.0, making India an export hub and focusing on technology and digitization. "During the three-day event, we expect leading players in the food processing sector from across the globe to showcase their strengths. Industry professionals' meets, exhibitions, and Food Street (a specially curated food experience arena) are also planned to explore collaborations and B2B/G contracts. The event will highlight the myriad opportunities, infrastructure available, incentives, and benefits to the investors, he added.

Prahlad Singh Patel, union minister - State for Food Processing Industries and Jal Shakti, Govt of India, in his address said, “With the experience of the previous edition of WFI held in 2017, we look forward to WFI-2023 as a flagship global event. We are proud of meeting the food needs of the world. Scientific parameters will help in the further growth of the food processing industry. Various government initiatives, including the PLI schemes in the food processing industry, will enhance the marketing and branding, and the government is proud of standardizing the quality parameters.”

He further added that innovation in the food processing industry has been a key differentiator globally. “With innovation, we will be one of the strongest economies in the world. Digitalisation has enhanced the quality parameters even in self-help groups and thus improving the sector's competitiveness.

While requesting wide stakeholder participation in the event, Anita Praveen, secretary, Ministry of Food Processing Industries, Government of India, said, “World Food India 2023, a flagship event of the Ministry, is a unique platform for global investors of food companies. We aim to make India an export hub with a major contribution from food processing and allied industries. Our focus is on value addition, processing machinery, packaging technology & material. Millets- ‘Shree Anna-The Super Food of India’ is one of the pillars of this event, and we aim to capture the global market. There are immense investment opportunities in post-harvest management, such as primary processing and storage, preservation infrastructure, cold chain, refrigerated transport, and value addition in organic and nutritious foods. WFI 2023 will provide an impetus for the industry's further growth and showcase India's potential in the food processing industry to the world.”

Harsha V Agarwal, vice president, FICCI & Shailesh K Pathak, secretary General, FICCI provided an outline of the preparations made in ensuring the success of the event and a brief of the arrangements at the venue for facilitating exhibitions, B2B, B2G & G2G meetings and collaborations.