Prez Kovind terms WFI 2017 as ‘ Kumbh Mela of India Food’

Speed Post News Network

New Delhi : World Food India (WFI) 2017 achieved a resounding success with delegates from over 60 countries and Global CEOs congregating in New Delhi for the three day Conference cum exhibition.

The President of India Ram Nath Kovind graced the event at its valedictory session on November 5, 2017, and congratulated Union Minister of Food processing Industries Harsimrat Kaur Badal, ably supported by MoS Sadhavi Niranjan Jyoti, for putting together the mega event.
Addressing the gathering, President Kovind said “World Food India 2017 has helped showcase the vast and near limitless opportunities in the food industry and in food processing in India.” The President termed WFI “the Kumbh Mela of Indian food.”  The President pointed out that Food is not just culture, it is also commerce. He said, “India’s food consumption is currently valued at US $370 billion. It is expected to reach $1 trillion by 2025 in less than a decade. There are opportunities across the entire food value chain in India  including post-harvest facilities, logistics, cold chains, and manufacturing. It is a sector with a large business appetite and the food industry can be a huge employer.”
The President cautioned that the regrettable wastage has to be curtailed. “A focused emphasis on modern food processing can change things. It gives the food sector the potential to become the intersection of so many of our flagship programmes – Make in India, Start-up India, Skill India, Digital India, and the resolve to double farm incomes,” President Kovind added, according a PIB release.
The President noted that the food story in India has world-wide implications. “On a global scale, the market for Indian food products is massive. It extends from 1.8 billion people in South Asia to a 30 million strong diaspora population, and to millions more in all parts of the world,” he elaborated.

On the occasion, the President gave away Start-up Awards and Hackathon Awards to college students  who helped suggest ways of detecting food adulteration. He said, “There is an increasing stress on food safety, accurate labelling, intellectual property issues and innovation in the food processing sector as well as on using technology as an enabler.”

Recapitulating the action packed three day Mega Food event, Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal said that inspired by the leadership of PM Narendra Modi, her Ministry sees World Food India 2017 as a beginnimg and not end of an event.  She said at the World Food India 2017 not only has a Guinness book record been established for cooking 918 kg of ubiquitous comfort, wellness food – the nutritious Khichadi, business worth $11.25b with 50 MoUs has been transacted during the three days.