State Ministers� Conference being called to discuss issues

Sharad Pawar to Inaugurate the Conference on 20th September

New Delhi, 18 September, 2013. A national level conference of Food Processing Industries ministers is being held this week in New Delhi to discuss ways to energise the sector and find solutions to problems being faced by this high-potential sector.

            The State Ministers’ Conference will be inaugurated on the 20th September by Agriculture and FPI Minister, Sharad Pawar. He will also launch an e-portal on the food processing sector.

            One of the key areas for discussion In the Conference will be the utilization of funds available under the National Mission on Food Processing and other schemes. This Mission, launched in 2012, is the umbrella programme for a number of promotional activities for food processing.

            The Conference will also seek States’ views on how to implement Plan Schemes more effectively. States’ participation assumes significance in proper implementation of the Schemes. The Conference is likely to find solutions to constraints faced by States and address States’ concerns.

            Matters relating to taxation – especially mandi tax on processed food - and market reforms will also be discussed in the conference.