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 Foodpro
2001, India's largest and most comprehensive event on food and
food processing, was held recently at the Chennai Trade Centre.
The four-day fair was organised by the Confederation of Indian
Industry (CII). The fair was organised with specific focus on
providing suppliers a platform to have tie ups with companies having
the latest technology in the food processing sector. More than 100
exhibitors showcased the latest technologies in the food sector,
the exhibition also included a country level participation from
Australia. Around 21 companies from Australia participated in this
fair. Every year the exhibition focusses on a particular Country,
last year it was the Netherlands.
The objective of holding the last three editions of Foodpro has
been, showcasing the Potential of the Food Sector in India to the
Industry. 1. Highlighting the Potential of Organised Retailing in
the Food Sector. 2. Offering a Marketing Platform for Companies
in the Food Business in India. 3. Influencing Policies in the Food
Sector in India. 4. Showcasing the latest Technologies in the Food
Sector in India and 5. Catalizing Investments in the Food Sector
in India.
 This
year the fair featured a Raw Materials Sourcing Forum with the objective
of creating effective linkages between Large Food Companies and
the Ancillary Industry. The forum featured presentations from large
hotel chains, large food companies, fast food chains etc, who presented
their raw materials requirements and plans for procurement and sourcing
of equipment and products. The exhibition was inaugurated by D
P Tripathi, Secretary, Ministry of Food Processing and Industries,
Government of India. Speaking at the inaugural function, D P
Tripathi said that 'Inspite of the fact that India is the world's
largest producer of milk and spices; it ranks second in the production
of fruits and vegetables; it ranks fifth and seventh in the world
in the production of poultry meat and marine landings, less than
2% of all these are processed. The value addition in India is just
7% compared to 23% in China and 45% in Philippines and 188% in the
UK'.
Some of the initiatives that the Government has taken so far to
promote the food processing industry he said were, delicensing the
entire segment; automatic approvals for 100% FDIs with some exceptions,
total exemption from Central Excise for processed fruits and vegetables;
free imports of capital goods; provisions of soft loans or grants
to food processing industries and setting up of food parks.
 Mallika
Srinivasan, Chairperson, Foodpro 2001, at the inaugural gave
some startling statistics on Indian Food Wastage. She said that
the country wastes Rs 23,000 crore worth of fruits and vegetables,
which is more than UK's annual consumption. Rs 50,000 crore worth
of food grains is also wasted, which is higher than what Australia
produces annually. She added that the huge wastage meant in a sense,
immense business potential that remains to be tapped. Foodpro 2001
is a forum for all stakeholders in the food industry to take advantage
and make the country a global food factory.
The exhibition provided an opportunity for comapnies in this sector
to-
- Source latest technologies
- Explore dealership/franchisee opportunities
- Expand procurement networks
- Add to the existing product range
- Explore investment opportunities in the food processing industry
- Source or procure agro products, raw materials etc
- Interact with Trade and Industry
Reacting to the exhibition, one of the participants L Murugan,
Branch Manager, Rinac India Ltd, said, we got around
130 enquiries of which nearly 50% could be fruitful. Most visitors
felt that it was a well organised show with a wide representation.
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