Food processing sun rise sector, says APCCIF chief G Sambasiva Rao

Visakhapatnam: President of Andhra Pradesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry Federation (APCCIF) G Sambasiva Rao said that the food processing is a sunrise sector with a huge potential for investment and growth, hence, entrepreneurs are keen to set up industries in the sector.

Due to incentives like reimbursement on power consumption, stamp duty by the government, there is a huge potential to open the units in the state in the sector, he added.

The Confederation of Women Entrepreneurs (COWE) in association with the APCCIF on Saturday organised a seminar on ‘Food processing sector’ in the city.

Sambasiva Rao said that 600 MoUs were signed with leading food processing companies during the partnership summit and 60 per cent of MoUs are under process at various stages.

Women entrepreneurs should study the market feasibility and other aspects before starting food processing units. Most of food products manufactured are being wasted due lack of required infrastructure like cold storages and reefer vehicles, he said.

Appreciating the government’s initiative of interlinking of rivers, Rao said barren lands would become fertile and farm produce would augment thereby farmers would getter better price for their produce from food processing industries in the region and abroad through exports.

Uma Ghurka, National President of COWE, said that women have plenty of opportunities in the food processing sector. Women can do wonders in the sector as women have a lot of knowledge in food processing.

The women entrepreneurs should come into the sector for not revenue generation, but to create more employment which leads a sustainable ecosystem, she added.

The COWE is taking up several programmes to empower the women through entrepreneurship by imparting relevant training, counselling, hand holding to enhance their skills and continuously improve services through knowledge and advocacy, Uma said.