The State government entered into several Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with food processing companies of national and international repute, in New Delhi on Friday.
The MoUs, worth ₹4,000 crore, were expected to give a fillip to the food processing industry in the State.
The MoUs were signed in the presence of Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, who participated in the inaugural session of the World Food India-2017.
The MoUs were signed with the Sharaf Group of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Haldiram’s, ITC, Keventer Agro Ltd, Sesh Sai Foods, MNR Agri Food Products, Foods and Inns, Fresh Frugies, RF Exports, Tifosi Foods, Supermarket Grocery Supplier Pvt Ltd. (BigBasket.com), and Waycool.
The Sharaf Group would invest ₹2,000 crore in setting up a logistics and food park in the State. The company came forward to work with the State on capacity-building in boosting productivity.
Haldiram’s would launch a food processing and manufacturing unit with an investment of ₹400 crore.
Horticulture project
Janani Foods Pvt Ltd promised to invest ₹500 crore in setting up an integrated horticulture project. BigBasket.com agreed to promote organic farming and provide market linkages to organic farmers. Mr. Naidu promised the companies that the government would extend all cooperation to the investors in terms of providing land, water, and logistics.
“The government has announced a separate policy to promote food processing. It will continue to support farmers and food processing industry,” he said.
The Chief Minister also held discussions with Cargill Foods CEO Pieter Boone, Keventer Agro Ltd managing director Mayank Jalan, and ASEAN managing director Brent Afman.
Keventer Agro Ltd came forward to set up a banana procurement and processing unit by investing ₹250 crore.
Mr. Naidu told the company that Andhra Pradesh was already a leading banana producer in the country and had the potential to become a global hub for banana production.
