Bhubaneswar: The Industrial Promotion & Investment Corporation of Odisha (IPICOL) today organised an interactive session on food processing sector industries to enlighten potential investors and current stakeholders about the investment opportunities available in the state.
Speaking on the occasion, Captain Dibya Shankar Mishra, minister of State (Independent Charge), Energy, Industries, Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises said that the food processing sector is one of the most promising sectors in the state of Odisha with a high potential to grow in the future.
“With the country’s agro and food processing sector expected to reach a size of US $530 billion by 2020, Odisha has been facilitating the creation of an ideal business eco-system to make the state a hub in the eastern region. Odisha is endowed with natural resources, long coastline and favourable climatic conditions for the production of a variety of agri-produce, fruits, vegetables and marine produce,” said Mishra.
The minister also invited the industry and entrepreneurs to invest in Odisha. “The Government will assist all the investors and industrialist to set up units in the state,” he said.
The state’s robust, dedicated and entrepreneur-friendly food processing policy and guidelines which make Odisha a favourable destination for investing in food processing sector were highlighted in the course of the session.
Commissioner-cum-Secretary- Industries & MSME, Hemant Sharma said: “With the availability of raw materials, 10 agro-climatic zones, agriculture resources, seafood, farming landscape, adequate cold storage capacity and easy connectivity to ASEAN region, Odisha has all the ingredients required for the food processing & seafood sector to flourish in the state. We are further providing several subsidies to encourage investors to choose Odisha.”
Prasanta Patnaik