With the objective of tapping new markets and identifying new opportunities for trade and investment, Trade Promotion Council of India (TPCI), has constituted three committees focussing on food and beverages, food processing technology and chemical and allied products. TPCI has constituted these committees to give handholding to the industry which will act as a think tank, submitting its suggestions and recommendations to the government for policies to boost exports.  TPCI governing council has decided to constitute several sector-specific committees with varied industry representation.

Laxman Singh Rathore, president, International Business of Ramdev Food Products Private Limited, was elected the chairman of the sector-specific committee on food and beverages. Vivek Agrawal, managing director of Capital Venture Private Limited, was selected as the vice-chair of the committee. This committee will be promoting Indian food and beverage products globally and facilitate Indian food and beverage products to reach the mainstream retail shelves across the world.

Rathore said, “The genesis for constituting this food and beverage committee was primarily based on making our trade promotion activity more robust, so as to include the industry players in the process of promoting bilateral/ multilateral trade. The purpose was to ensure exporters’ inputs are made integral to the policies and processes for growing export as one of the key stakeholders – in drawing up the action plans and trade agreements.”

Agrawal said, “The industry led by TPCI can highlight important issues which exporters face on a day-to-day basis. Some of the pressing issues like unavailability of containers, simplification of procedures, expanding the market, putting our products on the mainstream shelves, etc. could be taken up with the government for boosting exports.”

Senguttuvan said, “As chairman would like to give a thrust to the Indian Food Processing Technology area, becoming an international bench mark devising and following practices that will help the market to grow and exports to increase substantially.”

 Grover said, “I am confident that this food processing sectoral committee under the aegis of TPCI will endeavour to engage with all the stakeholders to improve efficiency, productivity, excellence and customise best global practices to encourage Indian entrepreneurs to create new Local Global Champions.”