Naveen Patnaik was lauded by all the participants of the Agri and Food Processors Conclave for his decade long successful tenure as the Chief Minister of Odisha.

He completed 10 years rule as Chief Minister today.

Mr.Patnaik humbly accepting the falicitation revealed that the State Government is formulating an investor-friendly Food Processing Industry Policy soon.

He said that a draft State Food Processing Policy has been circulated among all stakeholders for their comments after which it would be finalized in a view to tap the agri and food processing sector
potential.

Mr. Patnaik, however, said that despite the State has presence of 10 agro climate zones, it has yet to achieve significant growth in the agro industries and processed food sector.

Keeping in view the conducive business environment and vast potential in agro and food processing industries, there is a need to build Odisha’s competitiveness and identify critical success factors and issues, added the Chief Minister.

Swati Piramal, ASSOCHAM Chairperson lauded her investor-friendly approach.

Pyari Mohan Mohapatra, BJD MP graced the occasion.

Raghunath Mohanty, Minister Industries said that about 23,000 Agri and Food processing SMEs are in Odisha and those have so far generated over 1.2 lakh employment opportunities with an investment of Rs.1,000 crore.

Minister further clarified that the State has over 43,000 SMEs in various segments and out of it, there are 23,000 agri and food processing SMEs currently operating.

Prafulla Chandra Ghadei Minister Finance lamented that the state is yet to achieve growth in agri and food processing sector.

Tarun Kanti Mishra, Chief Secretary, Asit Tripathy, Chairman APEDA, Saurabh Garg, Secretary Industries, Hemant Sharma, Director Industries addressed the gathering.

Suresh Chandra Patnaik, CMD IPICOL, Awadesh Kumar, Director Ministry of Food processing and D S Rawat, ASSOCHAM Secretary General was present.

The event was coordinated by B N Palei, General Manager IPICOL.