Food Processing Minister Inaugurates 9th Edition of Indusfood 2026
Union Minister for Food Processing Industries Shri Chirag Paswan on Thursday inaugurated the 9th edition of Indusfood 2026, Asia’s premier food and beverage trade show, at Expo Mart, Greater Noida. The event marks the largest-ever edition of Indusfood, spread across over 1.2 lakh square metres and bringing together the global food and beverage ecosystem under one roof.

Addressing industry stakeholders, the Minister said the existence of a dedicated Ministry for Food Processing underlines the Government of India’s strong commitment to the sector. “We are here to support and motivate the industry and act as a bridge between the government and stakeholders,” he said, congratulating the Trade Promotion Council of India (TPCI) for successfully organising the ninth edition of the event.

Shri Paswan highlighted that with India becoming food surplus, the focus must now shift from volume-driven exports to value-added exports. He emphasised India’s vast untapped potential to emerge as the global food basket and urged efficient channelisation of resources to unlock growth. The Minister noted that schemes such as PM Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME), Pradhan Mantri Kisan SAMPADA Yojana (PMKSY) and initiatives through the National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management (NIFTEM) are benefitting both farmers and the industry, with plans to expand NIFTEM’s footprint to more states.

The Minister also pointed out that GST reforms, which reduced GST rates on food processing products to 5 per cent or zero, have significantly enhanced market access for the industry. Reaffirming the government’s unwavering support, he assured continued policy backing and ease of doing business. He further appealed to global food brands to establish their R&D centres in India, citing the country’s rich agricultural diversity and innovation potential.

On the occasion, APEDA Chairman Shri Abhishek Dev announced the launch of BHARATI (Bharat’s Hub for Agritech, Resilience, Advancement and Incubation for Export Enablement), an initiative aimed at supporting agri-food and agri-tech startups, fostering innovation and creating new export opportunities.

TPCI Chairman highlighted the massive scale of Indusfood 2026, featuring over 2,200 exhibitors from more than 30 countries and welcoming 15,000-plus buyers from over 120 nations. Two new pavilions—Pet Food & Animal Nutrition and Cookware & Kitchenware—have been introduced, reflecting emerging global trends in wellness, sustainability and premiumisation.

The event also hosts the World Culinary Heritage Conference 2026 and over 40 knowledge sessions with more than 150 speakers discussing investment, exports, regulations, AI, automation and future food ecosystems. Emphasising India–UAE collaboration, the CEO of Abu Dhabi Food Hub announced an MoU with TPCI for the India–UAE Food Corridor.

India’s food and beverage exports stood at USD 47.3 billion in 2024–25, while processed food exports reached USD 7.9 billion, underscoring the sector’s growing global footprint.