Dr. Subrata Gupta, Secretary, Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI), chaired a roundtable interaction with business leaders from the food processing and packaging machinery sector at Vigyan Bhawan Annexe, New Delhi. The session served as a vital platform to explore the potential of this sector and identify practical solutions to foster growth and enhance its global competitiveness.

In his opening remarks, Dr. Gupta highlighted the critical role of the equipment and machinery segment in modernizing and driving the growth of India’s food processing industry. He emphasized the need for advancing research and innovation, adopting cutting-edge technologies to boost global competitiveness, and fostering collaboration among stakeholders to unlock the sector’s full potential. Discussions also revolved around opportunities to improve the availability of quality raw materials, streamline regulatory frameworks, and provide robust support to both large and small-scale manufacturers.

Industry leaders stressed the importance of establishing a formal mechanism within the Ministry to create a favorable environment for attracting investments, developing standards, facilitating technology transfers, and promoting the adoption of locally manufactured machinery. The need to prioritize research and development (R&D) and foster innovation was also highlighted as key to enhancing the sector’s capabilities.

Dr. Gupta reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to addressing industry challenges and driving progress through collaborative efforts. He encouraged participants to work with Invest India and submit detailed representations to develop actionable strategies for overcoming the discussed challenges and driving growth.

This roundtable marks a significant step toward strengthening India’s food processing and packaging machinery industry, paving the way for greater innovation, sustainability, and global competitiveness.