New Delhi. To promote the food processing sector, the Center held discussions with more than 100 senior officials of food companies. The purpose of this meeting was to understand the problems faced by them related to ease of doing business, imports, GST rates and misconceptions about processed foods. During the meeting, food companies demanded reduction in GST rates on several food items. A high-level CEO roundtable co-chaired by Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and Food Processing Industries Minister Chirag Paswan was organized as part of the World Food India-2024 program to be held in the national capital during September 19-22.
It focused on “promoting investments and enhancing ease of doing business. Over 100 CXOs participated in it,” a government statement said. During the meeting, Paswan said, “The aim of this CEO roundtable was to provide a platform to industry representatives of food companies to place their concerns and suggestions before the government.” There was an open dialogue between industry representatives and government officials to understand the challenges faced by the industry and their suggestions on those issues.
Paswan stressed the need to promote the food processing sector at the state level to ensure that India becomes a global hub for food products. To achieve this objective, he said, “we wanted to understand various challenges, whether it is a matter of ease of doing business, taxation and misleading advertisements. We discussed these issues openly. Solutions were also found for some issues.” Paswan said there were some concerns related to GST rates and his ministry would raise these before the GST Council. “The final decision in this regard will be taken by the Council,” he said.
Minister of State for Food Processing Ravneet Singh Bittu, Minister of Industry and Commerce of Andhra Pradesh T G Bharat and Agriculture Minister of Gujarat Raghavji Patel were also present at the roundtable conference. Senior officials from various ministries of the Government of India and state governments were also present. According to sources, the traders discussed issues related to maximum residue limit (MRL), production linked incentive (PLI) scheme in the food industry, ease of doing business in the sector, etc. Some traders also raised concerns over the export of ‘maida’ (refined flour). Although wheat export is banned in the country, some traders are exporting ‘maida’ made from wheat. One of the traders also raised the issue of inverted-duty structure and suggested making PLI schemes in accordance with global realities.
