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Karnataka government set to help investors in food processing industry
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Wednesday, 03 January, 2018, 08 : 00 AM [IST]
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Nandita Vijay, Bengaluru
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The government of Karnataka has invited food processing companies to set up production plants in the state. The move is a precursor to the Organics and Millets 2018 - International Trade Fair, slated to take place at Palace Grounds, Bengaluru, between January 19 and 21, 2017.
The state is known for its investor-friendly policies, talent pool and easy access to raw materials, and the government is ready to even amend laws, if needed, to provide better facilities to establish businesses that have the potential to create jobs.
At the three-day global food event organised by the ministry of food processing industries, Karnataka medium and heavy industries minister R V Deshpande, who was present along with the state agriculture minister Krishna Byre Gowda, invited companies to invest in its food processing industry.
The state government opined that there was greenfield assistance to set up new businesses and start-ups that could help boost farmers’ incomes.
“Karnataka offers competitive and diversified input supply, with the advantage of ten agro-climatic zones with different soil structures, topographies, vegetation, elevation and rainfall which helps in supporting a wide variety of crops,” said Gowda.
“Not only agri-commodities, but also the fisheries and poultry sectors offer huge opportunities for investment. Besides, the state of Karnataka has a huge consumer base,” he added.
“The state is known for its millet farming, and one could look at investing in organic foods too,” Gowda said. Deshpande said, “If any company puts forth proposals right now, the government is ready to clear them immediately. We have a transparent and single-window clearance system.”
The state not only has policies to support big players, but also start-up firms. The state is first to integrate 150 mandis on a single online platform, which helps companies to source raw material without any hassle.
The state has a 320-km long coastline and production and export in fisheries at a rate of 24 per cent.
There are eight fishing harbours and 88 fish landing centres. The state ranks second in milk and curd production, third in poultry meat production and seventh in egg production.
There are investor-friendly government initiatives aimed at supporting development of agri-business and food processing industry and houses over 40 agri and biotech start-ups, five food parks and over 80 food processing companies in the food parks across Karnataka.
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