Ministry of Food Processing Industries today organized Roundtable with Heads of Foreign Missions in India to discuss overseas participation in the World Food India (WFI) 2023, at Sushma Swaraj Bhawan, New Delhi.  The second edition of 'World Food India 2023’ is being organised by the Ministry from 3-5 November 2023 at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi to showcase Indian Food Processing Sector seeking collaborations and investments from global Stakeholders. The event is being organized as part of International Year of Millets 2023 activities and will have Millets (Shree Anna), organic produce and indigenous processed food as some of the focus areas.

The interaction was co-chaired by Secretary, Ministry of Food Processing Industries, Smt. Anita Praveen, and Special Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs, Shri Prabhat Kumar. It was attended by Ambassadors, High Commissioners, Charge d' Affaires and other senior representatives from wide spectrum of countries. In all, 47 countries were represented in the interaction.  Senior officers from Ministry of External Affairs, Ministry of Food Processing Industries, Department of Commerce, APEDA, MPEDA and other Commodity Boards, apart from organizations associated with organizing the event (FICCI, Invest India & EY) participated in the deliberations.

Secretary, FPI & Special Secretary, MEA briefed the representatives about various aspects of the event. During the interaction, unique contribution of India in ensuring global food security, its vast resource base as well as huge consumer base making it an attractive proposition for overseas stakeholders and exhibition encompassing different sub-sectors of food processing as well as related machinery, technological innovations, sustainability aspect, etc were highlighted.

The participants were apprised of preparations made for the event and opportunities available for participating countries/ business entities. All the representatives of the embassies appreciated the special importance of the event in existing global food scenario and assured all efforts for active participation from respective countries. The representatives assured presence of strong food processing sectoral contingent from respective countries.  

World Food India, 2023 exhibits the “Whole of Government Approach”, as different Ministries/ Departments/ Govt Organizations (like Department of Commerce, Ministry of Ayush, Ministry of DONER, Ministry of MSME, Commodity Boards, etc.) have partnered to pool in their respective strengths to ensure its success. Industry professionals' meets, B2B/G meetings, Exhibitions and Food Street (a specially curated food experience arena) and Reverse Buyer Seller Meet (RBSM), planned during the event, make it a unique value proposition for the participating stakeholders. 

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MJPS/AS