Post by Food Industry Asia (FIA)

𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐚'𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐝 17%, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞. 🌱 Food Industry Asia was pleased to be part of 𝐒𝐀𝐏𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐃𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐮𝐞 2026: 𝐔𝐧𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐕𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐞: 𝐀𝐝𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐅𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐄𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐲𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐭𝐡 𝐢𝐧 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐀𝐬𝐢𝐚, a two-day Regional High-Level Policy Dialogue co-hosted by the Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI), Government of India and The World Bank Group Bank Group in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, on 9–10 June 2026. Key highlights from the dialogue: 🔸 Hon'ble Union Minister Shri Chirag Paswan emphasised India's emergence as a global food processing hub, describing food processing as a bridge between agriculture and prosperity 🔸 India's food processing levels have risen from around 10% in 2016 to nearly 17% in 2023, as highlighted in the newly released 𝘈𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘓𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘭 𝘰𝘧 𝘍𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘤𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯 𝘐𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘢 𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵 🔸 Significant headroom remains in fruits, vegetables, and dairy, which are identified as priority areas for value addition and post-harvest loss reduction 🔸 Thematic sessions spanned supply chain strengthening, MSME formalisation, smart tech & innovation, food safety & standards, investment mobilisation, and regional policy cooperation 🔸 An Innovation Fair ran alongside, giving a platform to the advances in cold chain logistics, digital traceability, sustainable packaging, and smart processing Aligned with the World Bank's AgriConnect initiative, the dialogue underscored the importance of cross-country learning, private investment, and policy reform in building more competitive, inclusive, and sustainable food systems across South Asia. The programme concluded with an industry visit led by Shri Ranjit Singh, Joint Secretary, MoFPI, to FANIDHAR MEGA FOOD PARK, Mehsana, Gujarat, providing participants with an opportunity to see first-hand how investments in processing, technology, and innovation are being translated into practical solutions that strengthen food value chains, reduce losses, and create value across the ecosystem. FIA remains committed to supporting evidence-based, industry-aligned policy dialogue that advances resilient food systems in the region. #FoodIndustryAsia #FIA #FIAIndia #FoodProcessing #FoodSystems #SouthAsia #FoodInnovation #AgrifoodSystems