Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday inaugurated World Food India 2025 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, calling it a unique platform bringing together farmers, entrepreneurs, investors, innovators, and consumers.
In his address, the Prime Minister underscored India’s “triple strength of diversity, demand, and scale,” positioning the country as one of the most attractive destinations for investment in the global food sector. “India produces every type of grain, fruit, and vegetable. Every hundred kilometres, the cuisine and its flavours change – this diversity is our strength,” he said, adding that India’s strong domestic demand and rapidly growing neo-middle class make it a compelling market for food businesses worldwide.
Highlighting India’s progress in poverty reduction, PM Modi noted that 25 crore people have overcome poverty in the last decade, joining the ranks of the aspirational middle class and shaping new food trends. He lauded India’s vibrant start-up ecosystem – now the world’s third-largest – with many start-ups innovating in agriculture, supply chain, and food processing through technologies such as AI, drones, and e-commerce platforms.
The Prime Minister also outlined the government’s efforts to strengthen the entire food and nutrition ecosystem. He cited initiatives such as 100% FDI in food processing, the PLI scheme, mega food parks, and the world’s largest storage infrastructure scheme. These measures, he said, have resulted in a 20-fold increase in processing capacity and more than doubled exports of processed food over the past decade.
Focusing on farmers, PM Modi emphasized that more than 85% of Indian farmers are small or marginal and are now emerging as a major market force through government-supported Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) and micro food processing units run by self-help groups. “Over 1,100 FPOs have now crossed annual turnovers of ₹1 crore,” he said, highlighting the growing role of rural entrepreneurship in boosting incomes and employment.
The Prime Minister also lauded the contribution of cooperatives in empowering India’s dairy sector and rural economy, particularly during the International Year of Cooperatives. He pointed to tax and transparency reforms and the creation of a dedicated ministry for cooperatives as key enablers for growth in this sector.
PM Modi further outlined the government’s focus on marine and fisheries infrastructure, support for deep-sea fishing, and investments in processing plants, cold chains, and smart harbours, noting that the sector now employs nearly three crore people.
In a major boost to industry, the Prime Minister highlighted recent GST reforms that have lowered taxes on essentials like butter, ghee, milk cans, bio-pesticides, micro-nutrients, and biodegradable packaging. “Over 90% of processed food products now fall under the zero or 5% tax slab, ensuring affordability for consumers and better margins for producers,” he said, urging industry stakeholders to invest in sustainable and eco-friendly packaging solutions.
Concluding his address, PM Modi reiterated that India is open and ready for global collaborations across the food value chain. “This is the right time to invest and expand in India,” he declared, extending best wishes to all participants.
The event was attended by Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Patrushev, Union Ministers Chirag Paswan, Ravneet Singh, and Prataprao Jadhav, along with senior government officials, industry leaders, and international delegates.
World Food India 2025, being held from September 25–28, will showcase India’s capabilities in food processing, sustainability, and organic food production. The event will feature CEO roundtables, B2B and G2G meetings, 14 thematic pavilions, and participation from 21 countries and 150 international delegates, attracting nearly 100,000 visitors.
