Cologne, Germany - India is seeking outside investment in
its food-processing industry, both to increase food supplies and
boost exports, a government minister said Saturday at the Anuga trade
fair in Germany.
Subodh Kant Sahai, minister of state for food-processing
industries, noted that just 7 per cent of food in India was currently
factory processed.
'Seventy per cent of our population is in the agribusiness,' said
the minister in an interview.
Farm and shop produce is far more important than in Western
countries.
India needs advanced food-processing technology, whether home-
grown or from abroad, to produce 'more food to fill up stomachs,' he
told Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa at the start of the five-day food
fair in the city of Cologne.
Developing the industry is so important that New Delhi allows
foreign investors to set up wholly owned food-processing factories in
India without any local business partner.
On Sunday, India was to invite business leaders at the fair to
enjoy the tastes of India at a special event in Cologne.
They were to be served at the India Day party with such
specialties as samosa pastries and the juice of mangoes and jamun
berries, as well as platters of curries and other substantial fare.
Anuga, the world's top fair devoted to food and a meeting place
for the world's food traders, is held every two years.
© 2007 dpa - Deutsche Presse-Agentur 
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