Dr. Subrata Gupta, Secretary, Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI), chaired a roundtable interaction with business leaders from the bakery and confectionery sub-sector today at Vigyan Bhawan Annexe, New Delhi. The session served as a dynamic platform to discuss the challenges faced by the sector and identify actionable solutions to enhance its growth and global competitiveness.

Key discussions during the roundtable centered around improving the availability of quality raw materials, streamlining supply chains, and enacting regulatory reforms to support both large and small-scale manufacturers. Business leaders emphasized the immense potential for increasing investments across the value chain, especially to empower small-scale and specialty manufacturers to scale operations and cater to evolving consumer demands. The integration of informal sector units into the formal ecosystem was highlighted as a critical step toward achieving greater efficiency, scalability, and adherence to quality standards.

A recurring theme was enhancing the ease of doing business, with participants advocating for simplified regulatory frameworks and policy alignment to create a more enabling business environment. Sustainability and innovation were also key focal points, with industry stakeholders suggesting accelerated adoption of advanced technologies and expanded domestic production of critical inputs, such as cocoa, to unlock untapped opportunities in the sector.

The importance of skill development and capacity-building initiatives for small and medium enterprises was another area of emphasis. Industry leaders called for programs to foster innovation, enhance productivity, and support business expansion. Consumer awareness campaigns to promote the benefits of processed foods and encourage wider domestic acceptance were also recommended.

Dr. Subrata Gupta assured participants of the Ministry’s commitment to fostering a collaborative approach to address industry challenges and unlock its full potential. He underscored the importance of public-private partnerships, strengthening value chains, and creating a supportive ecosystem to drive growth. Industry representatives were encouraged to connect with Invest India and submit detailed representations to formulate actionable strategies for overcoming challenges effectively.

This roundtable marks a significant step in MoFPI’s ongoing efforts to promote sustainable growth and global competitiveness for India’s bakery and confectionery industry.