New Delhi: A press briefing was held by the Hon’ble Union Minister of State, Food Processing Industries, Prahlad Singh Patel, at the National Media Centre in New Delhi earlier today to apprise the media of the upcoming mega food event, World Food India 2023. Also present were the Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI), Minhaj Alam, Additional Secretary MoFPI, Sanoj Kumar Jha, and M/O Food Processing Industries, Mattu JP Singh.
The second edition of World Food India is being organized by the Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) from 3rd-5th November 2023 at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi. The flagship event, bringing together participants from over 81 countries across the globe, is expected to be the largest gathering of food processing stakeholders- Industry leaders, policymakers, investors, entrepreneurs, academia, and others. It will serve as a platform for showcasing Indian food culture and investment opportunities in the food processing industry, positioning India as the global hub for food processing.
The event will be inaugurated by the Hon’ble Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, on November 3rd at the iconic Bharat Mandapam in Pragati Maidan. Pashupati Kumar Paras, Hon’ble Minister of Food Processing Industries, Government of India, and others will be present at the event where the Prime Minister will unveil commemorative stamps and coins. The Hon’ble President, Smt Droupadi Murmu, will deliver the valedictory address on November 5th.
In his opening remarks, Hon’ble Minister Prahlad Singh Patel announced that over 1,000 buyers and 950 exhibitors from 81 countries will participate in the three-day event. The Netherlands will be the ‘Partner Country in this edition of World Food India, while Japan and Vietnam will be the ‘Focus Countries’. Additionally, 23 state governments, 18 central ministries, and allied departments are partnering with WFI 2023. He recalled how the visionary efforts of Prime Minister Modi led to the declaration of the year 2023 as the International Year of the Millets and added that making millets a primary focus pillar of WFI 2023 has great significance for the world.
In a detailed presentation, Minhaj Alam gave a brief overview of the ongoing preparations for the event. He also shared the key highlights of World Food India 2023- the Inaugural, Plenary and Valedictory sessions at the conference, an exhibition with 50,000 sq m of multi-sectoral space featuring international and domestic companies, a dedicated Reverse Buyer Seller Meet (RBSM), focussed B2B, B2G and G2G meetings, 20+ foreign business delegations, 4 High-level CEO’s roundtables, 200+ speakers across 50 conference sessions and themed pavilions.
The experiential Food Street, curated by Celebrity Chef Ranveer Brar, promises to be the chief attraction for food enthusiasts and industry professionals alike. Spread over 3 zones, it boasts a sustainable food theatre with a focus on Shree Anna or millets and pavilions showcasing regional cuisines from all corners of the country, street food as well as food from the royal culinary heritage of India. Also on the cards is an attempt at establishing a Guinness World Record for the longest dosa in the world. 60 to 80 chefs will be working together to create a millet dosa over 100 feet long, a testament to the dedication and skill of the team. To celebrate the International Year of Millets 2023, a monumental installation composed of 50,000 tetra-pack containers of millet beverages will be created and distributed to underprivileged children.
The event is expected to attract 75,000 visitors over three days. Attendees will enjoy cultural programs featuring classical and folk dance, as well as musical performances. With its world-class infrastructure, diverse culinary traditions, and innovative food industry, World Food India will cement India’s position as a leader in the global food industry.
