Processed food exports up 150% in 9 years : Piyush Goyal

NEW DELHI : Indian exports of processed food grew 150% in the last nine years, said Shri Piyush Goyal, Minister for Commerce & Industry, Consumer affairs, Food & Public Distribution and Textiles, adding that the country’s agricultural exports stood at an aggregate of about $53 billion during this time.

Praising India’s diverse food industry and the burgeoning demand for Indian foods globally, the minister emphasised on the need for large-scale food processing, product branding and export focus to provide better value to farmers, generate employment and enhance the country’s earnings.

India has 158 food and agri Geographical Indications (GIs) and the identification of 708 unique food items across districts under the One District One Product (ODOP) initiative, the minister said, while inaugurating the ‘Indus Food 2024’, an exhibition to showcase India’s vibrant and diverse food ecosystem at the India Exposition Mart, Greater Noida. The minister also highlighted India’s economic strengths as the fastest-growing large economy, attributing the success to solid macroeconomic foundations and a youthful demographic dividend.