Prime Minister(PM) Narendra Modi inaugurated the 2nd edition of World Food India (WFI 2023), the biennial Mega Food Event, on November 3, 2023, at Bharat Mandapam, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi.
- The event held from November 3-5, 2023 was organised by the Ministry of Food Processing Industry(MoFPI).
- PM Modi also inaugurated Food Street as part of World Food India 2023.
Mascot: MillInd, a probot/foor processing robot, is the Mascot for WFI 2023.
Note: WFI 2023 showcased India as the food basket of the world and commemorated 2023 as the International Year of Millets.
About World Food India:
The first edition of WFI was held in 2017 at the Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.
- The event was not organised in consecutive years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
WFI 2023:
WFI 2023 was supported by 10 Ministries/Departments of the Government of India(GoI), 6 commodity boards, and 25 states. The event gained attention from international and domestic stakeholders.
With 1208 exhibitors, 14 country pavilions, and notable participation from 715 international buyers, 218 domestic buyers, and 97 corporate leaders, the event spanned 50,000 square meters across seven exhibition halls.
Highlights of WFI 2023 Inaugural Event:
i.During the inaugural event, PM Modi announced a seed capital aid of Rs 380 crore to support over 1 lakh Self-Help Group (SHG) members.
- This initiative aims to strengthen SHGs, enabling them to achieve better price realization in the market through improved packaging and quality manufacturing.
ii.During the event, Parshottam Rupala, Union Minister, Ministry of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries (MoAHD&F) inaugurated the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying’s pavilion at WFI 2023 in New Delhi, showcasing innovative products and featuring a “Selfie Point,” live demonstrations, and 20 stalls highlighting schemes and technological advancements in the livestock and dairy sector.
Points to note:
i.PM Modi highlighted the impressive foreign direct investment (FDI) of Rs 50,000 crore attracted by India’s food processing sector in past nine years.
- Over the last 9 years, the share of processed foods in India’s agricultural exports has grown from 13% to 23%, marking a 150% increase.
iii.PM Modi also highlighted the unique agricultural products being exported from India, including black garlic from Himachal Pradesh, dragon fruit from Jammu & Kashmir, and soya milk powder from Madhya Pradesh.
- India now stands at the 7th position globally with an overall export value of over USD50,000 million in agricultural produce.
iii.He underscored the impact of the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme and the ongoing projects under the Agri-Infra Fund, totalling investments exceeding Rs 50,000 crores.
Investments worth Rs 33,129 crore committed during WFI 2023
During WFI 2023, Global and domestic investors have committed an investment of Rs 33,129 crore in India’s food processing sector. MoFPI and various industry entities signed a Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) worth Rs 33,129 crore during the event.
- On 3rd November 2023, the MoFPI signed 16 Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) worth Rs 17,990 crore with several organisations.
- The signatories of these MoUs encompass prominent companies such as Amul, Kellogg’s, IB Group, Balaji Wafers, Ananda Dairy, Fertis, Bikanerwala, Mondelez, ITC, Innobev, Nedspice, General Mills, and Ab Inbev, among others.
Food Street:
The Food Street, curated by Celebrity Chef Ranveer Brar, offered an immersive experience of India’s rich culinary heritage, featuring 200 chefs, including prominent names like Chef Sarah Todd and Chef Kunal Kapur, conducting cookery demonstrations.
- The event also featured ICC23, an international culinary competition, celebrating excellence with categories like pre-millet dishes and live pasta cooking, along with masterclasses and an awards ceremony.
APEDA Signs MoU with LLC to Boost Indian Agricultural Products in GCCs
The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), under the Ministry of Commerce, GoI, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Lulu Hypermarket LLC, a global retail giant, to enhance the export of Indian agricultural products, including millets, to the Gulf Cooperation Countries (GCCs).
Signatories:
The MoU was signed by APEDA Chairman Abhishek Dev and LuLu Group Chairman and Managing Director(CMD) Yusuf Ali MA at WIF 2023 on 3rd November 2023.
Key Points:
i.The MoU aims to promote Brand India globally, particularly in the GCC where Lulu Group has a significant presence.
ii.APEDA will actively promote a variety of Indian agricultural products, including millet, leveraging Lulu Group’s extensive retail network.
- The collaboration involves allocating dedicated shelf space (special sections or aisles) within Lulu Group’s stores to prominently showcase APEDA’s products, enhancing their visibility.
- Lulu Hypermarket LLC, recognized as the fastest-growing retail chain in the Middle East and Asia, operates across the GCC, Egypt, India, and the Far East, boasting 247 LuLu stores and 24 shopping malls.
iii.The collaborative efforts extend to partnerships with various organizations, such as Arunachal Pradesh Marketing Board, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences & Technology, Jammu, and Meghalaya Agricultural Marketing Board, to boost exports from Himalayan and North Eastern states.
iv.Both parties will coordinate export-oriented promotional programs, including Buyer-Seller meets (BSM), Reverse BSMs (R-BSMs), B2B meetings, and trade fairs in collaboration with Indian Missions abroad.
- The event hosted a Reverse Buyer Seller Meet with over 1,200 overseas buyers from more than 80 countries.
HyFun Foods Signed an MoU with Lulu Group International at WFI 2023
Ahmedabad, Gujarat-based HyFun Foods has signed a MoU with Lulu Group International to produce and supply an exclusive range of frozen food products under the private label brand ‘Lulu.’
Signatories:
The MoU was signed by Shamim Sainulabdeen, Director of Private Label, Lulu Group International, and Kamlesh Karamchandani, Director (Sales, Marketing & Supply Chain), HyFun Foods in the presence of the Lulu Group’s management team.
About the MoU:
i.HyFun Foods will be responsible for manufacturing and supplying a diverse range of frozen potato snacks under the ‘Lulu’ private label, targeting the United Arab Emirates(UAE), Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and India.
ii.The collaborative promotional activities aim to disseminate information and raise awareness about the benefits of ethnic, unique, and Geographical Indication (GI)-tagged agri-products to consumers in the destination countries.
iii.Renowned for its high-quality frozen snacks, HyFun Foods has strategically positioned itself in Southeast Asian countries, the Middle East, Africa, Australia, and various other regions.
About Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority(APEDA):
APEDA is an apex body authorised under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry(MoCI).
Chairman– Dr. Abhisek Dev
Formation- 1986
Headquarters– New Delhi, Delhi
About Ministry of Food Processing Industries(MOFPI):
Union Minister– Pashupati Kumar Paras (Constituency – Hajipur, Bihar)
Minister of State (MoS)– Prahlad Singh Patel
