**Executive Summary**
The Food Processing Industries Minister inaugurated the 9th edition of Indusfood 2026 on January 8, 2026, at Expo Mart, Greater Noida. The event highlighted the reduction in GST rates, the call for R&D center setups by global brands in India, and APEDA's 'Bharati Initiative' to support agri-food startups. Indusfood 2026 is Asia's premier food and beverage tradeshow, covering 120,000 square meters.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Indusfood 2026 Inauguration:**
* Inaugurated by Shri Chirag Paswan, Minister of Food Processing Industries.
* Showcases Asia's premier food and beverage sector.
* Features 2,200+ exhibitors from 30+ countries and 15,000+ buyers from 120+ countries.
* **Government Initiatives and Appeals:**
* Reduction in GST rates to boost market access for the food processing industry.
* Minister appealed to convert volume into value exports.
* Global brands encouraged to establish R&D centers in India.
* Emphasis on government support through policies and ease of doing business.
* **APEDA's 'Bharati Initiative':**
* Launched to support agri-food and agri-tech startups.
* Aims to promote innovation and create export opportunities.
* Stands for Bharat's Hub for Agritech, Resilience, Advancement, and Incubation for Export Enablement.
* **Indusfood 2026 Features and Partnerships:**
* Two new pavilions: Pet Food & Animal Nutrition and Cookware & Kitchenware.
* Partnership with IFCA to host the World Culinary Heritage Conference 2026.
* Focus on investment, exports, regulations, AI, automation, and food ecosystems with 150+ speakers.
* **India-UAE Food Corridor:**
* An MoU announced with TPCI for the India-UAE Food Corridor.
* Emphasis on sustainable trade practices.
* **Exports Data:**
* India's F&B exports stood at USD 47.3 billion in 2024–25.
* Processed food exports reached USD 7.9 billion.
* **Other Initiatives**
* Schemes like PMFME and PMKSY are helping both farmers and the industry.
**Impact Analysis**
**Food Processing Industry**
* **Impact:** Increased market access due to reduced GST rates and potential for increased exports. Beneficiary of supportive government policies.
* **Action Required:** Capitalize on opportunities for value-added exports and innovation.
**Agri-food and Agri-tech Startups**
* **Impact:** Supported through APEDA's 'Bharati Initiative' for innovation and export opportunities.
* **Action Required:** Participate in the 'Bharati Initiative' and explore export potential.
**Global Food Brands**
* **Impact:** Encouraged to set up R&D centers in India to leverage the country's diversity and potential.
* **Action Required:** Evaluate opportunities to establish R&D centers in India.
**Farmers**
* **Impact:** Schemes like PMFME, PMKSY, and others are helping farmers.
* **Action Required:** Utilize National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management schemes.
**Trade Promotion Council of India (TPCI)**
* **Impact:** Recognized for organizing Indusfood 2026 and partnering for the India-UAE Food Corridor.
* **Action Required:** Continue facilitating trade and investment opportunities.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Food Processing Industries: Central ministry responsible for the food processing sector in India.
Indusfood 2026: Asia's premier food and beverage tradeshow.
APEDA: Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority.
Bharati Initiative: APEDA initiative to support agri-food and agri-tech startups.
Noida: Location of the Expo Mart where Indusfood 2026 was held.
Ministry of Food Processing Industries
The Food Processing Industries Minister
inaugurated 9th edition of Indusfood 2026
Reduction in GST rates helped food processing industry
increase market access for the industry; appealed to convert
volume into value exports; appealed global brands to set up
their R&D center in India
APEDA’s ‘Bharati Initiative’ to spotlight agri-food start-ups
प्रव तथ: 08 JAN 2026 6:14PM by PIB Delhi
Shri Chirag Paswan, Minister of Food Processing Industries, Government of India inaugurated Indusfood
2026 at Expo Mart, Greater Noida, on 8th January 2026. Indusfood is Asia’s premier food and beverage
tradeshow. This is the biggest edition of the show yet covering a total area of 120,000 square meters. Shri
Abhishek Dev, Chairman APEDA, Mr. Mohit Singla, Chairman, Trade Promotion Council of India, Mr.
Jens Wolfgang Michel, CEO, Abu Dhabi Food Hub (KEZAD), Mr. Ashish Kumar Agrawal, Managing
Director of Bhikharam Chandmal, etc. were present on the occasion besides industry leaders, buyers,
exhibitors and members of the global F&B ecosystem.Delivering his inaugural address, Shri Paswan said, “I am here to support and motivate you all. The mere
fact that Government of India has a separate Ministry for the food processing sector underlines the
importance accorded to the sector. We are trying to be bridge between the government and industry.”
Minister congratulated TPCI for organizing the 9th successful edition of Indusfood and providing big
platform to the industry.
Food Processing Minister further appealed that, “Now that we are food surplus, we all need to convert this
volume into value. We all know the strength of the sector and the untapped potential of India to be the
global food basket; the need is to now channelize the resources.” He said that his ministry is supporting
more and more entrepreneurs to enter this field.
Schemes like PM Formalization of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME), Pradhan antri Kisan
SAMPADA Yojana (PMKSY), National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management,
etc. are helping both farmers and the industry. He also said that National Institute of Food TechnologyEntrepreneurship and Management scope will be extended to cover more states.
He said that, “Government is behind the food processing industry with unwavering support and will do
anything for a supportive policy matter, such as ease of doing business.” The Minister informed that he
took high GST rate on the food processing sector which got addressed through GST reforms and GST
were reduced to lowest slab either to 5% or 0, which apparently helped create greater market access for
the sector.
Minister during his address appealed to all brands to open their R&D centers in India. India has huge
diversity and has immense potential to introduce new variety on the global food platter.
The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) has
launched an initiative to support agri-food and agri-tech startups, aimed at promoting innovation and
creating new export opportunities for young entrepreneurs.
APEDA Chairman Shri Abhishek Dev said the initiative - BHARATI, which stands for Bharat's Hub for
Agritech, Resilience, Advancement and Incubation for Export Enablement, has been designed to empower
agri sector startups.
At the inauguration, the Chairman of the Trade Promotion Council of India highlighted the scale of
Indusfood 2026, bringing together over 2,200 exhibitors from 30+ countries across 125,000 sq. metres,
with 15,000+ buyers from more than 120 countries, integrating the entire F&B value chain in one
ecosystem. The event also introduced two new pavilions—Pet Food & Animal Nutrition and Cookware &
Kitchenware—reflecting emerging global demand driven by lifestyle shifts, wellness, premiumization,
and sustainability.
In partnership with IFCA, TPCI is hosting the World Culinary Heritage Conference 2026 and over 40
knowledge events featuring 150+ speakers on investment, exports, regulations, AI, automation, and food
ecosystems. The CEO of Abu Dhabi Food Hub emphasized India–UAE synergies, sustainable trade
practices, and announced an MoU with TPCI for the India–UAE Food Corridor. India’s F&B exports
stood at USD 47.3 billion in 2024–25 with strong growth, while processed food exports reached USD 7.9
billion, led by cocoa and related products.
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