The food processing sector is going to be on the driving seat of the Indian economy and will contribute significantly in the country's GDP, food processing minister Subodh Kant Sahai said on Friday. Earlier, he was handling the same ministry as minister of state (independent charge).
Finance Minister P Chidambaram on Monday sidestepped questions on the demands for removal of Union Minister Subodh Kant Sahai, who is embroiled in a controversy over allocation of a coal block in Jharkhand.
Ahead of Sunday's reshuffle of the Union Council of Ministers, three Cabinet ministers and a minister of state resigned on Saturday, saying they want to work for the party.
Britain and India have agreed to set up a joint tourism development forum to give a fillip to tourism in the two countries through a combined effort of the travel industry of both sides.
The country aims to attract one percent of the global tourist arrivals by the end of 12th Five Year Plan (2012-2017) from the current 0.58 percent, Union Tourism Minister Subodh Kant Sahai has said.
Tourism Minister Subodh Kant Sahai, who is embroiled in a controversy over allocation of a coal block in Jharkhand, was on Friday cornered over the letter he had written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, recommending a company in which his brother is a director. "This debate is sandwiched between a Delhi high court judgment and a bunch of lies being spread by the BJP. Parliament is not able to function due to their lies even as the whole country is watching," Sahai said.
India and France aim to double the bilateral trade to $12 billion (around Rs 50,000 crore) from current $6 billion and have identified food processing sector as a core area of cooperation.
The government plans to invest up to 10 per cent in the sector and would encourage more private and foreign participation.
India and the US reviewed on Tuesday the Agriculture Knowledge Initiative, a joint effort of Prime Minster Manmohan Singh and US President George W Bush, with emphasis on the food processing sector.
Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh is all set to carry a major reshuffle in his Cabinet that is scheduled to take place around 11:30 am on Sunday. The reshuffle is likely to see the inclusion of several young faces
India has sought investment from Canada in the country's food processing sector saying it would enhance global food security.
Stating this Union Tourism minister, Subodh Kant Sahai said on Friday his ministry has appointed a national level consultant to identify four tourism circuits in each state, excluding the North Eastern states and 2 in each union territory for integrated development of tourism circuits during the 12th Plan period.
The many colours of India came alive as the famous Surajkund crafts fair began near Delhi on Tuesday with ethnic wares from all over the country on display and Department of Posts releasing a commemorative cover and stamp to mark the event's 25th anniversary.
What is India's share of processed food export presently in the world? It is just 1.5 percent.
Early this year, the US allowed import of Indian mangoes but only after fumigation test in a designated laboratory set up in Maharashtra.
The government is likely to accord special economic zone status to the proposed mega food parks that come up during the 11th Five-Year Plan (2007-12).
The Centre may soon come out with an ordinance to amend the Forward Contracts (Regulation) Act to give autonomy to commodity market regulator Forward Markets Commission. "The issue is likely to come up before the Cabinet on January 24," Minister of State for Food Processing Industries Subodh Kant Sahai said on the sidelines of an Assocham-organised conference on futures trading.
We are looking at setting up 30 food parks in the 11th five-year Plan, says Subodh Kant Sahai Union Food, Processing Minister.
The minister blamed 'fragmented farming, provisions in the Agricultural Produce Marketing (Development & Regulation) Act, lack of cold chain facilities, transportation, proper storage and processing facilities' for the losses.
The US-based food major Griffith Laboratories will set up a manufacturing unit in Bangalore to tap the potential offered by the Indian processed food market
The government plans to establish 30 mega food-parks in different parts of the country through the public-private partnership (PPP)-route and special purpose vehicle modes.The public-private partnership route or special purpose vehicle mode would be adopted for these parks, he added. The centre planned to set up the parks from this year on, he said.
The central government has taken up a Rs 400 crore (Rs 4-billion) project for building 30 mega food parks in India along with a proper supply chain for each of them.
The US companies have evinced a keen interest to invest in India's food processing sector, which requires a massive funding to the tune of Rs 1,00,000 crore (Rs 1000 billion) largely from private sector, Food Processing Minister S K Sahai said.
A fresh estimate from the ministry of food processing says a whopping Rs 58,000 crore (Rs 580 billion) worth of agriculture food items get wasted in the country every year.
The government on Monday said job opportunities in the food processing sector in the country have increased by over 35 per cent to 13.4 million in the last five years.
The Centre has decided to set up the first mega food park in West Bengal, Minister for Food Processing Subodh Kant Sahai said.
In an effort to promote the food processing sector and attract foreign investment, the Centre plans to extend as much as Rs 75 crore (Rs 750 million) as financial help to states to set up mega food parks, Union Minister of State for Food Processing S
The Congress, however, distanced itself from the statement made at the party's 'Satyagraha' protest at Jantar Mantar in Delhi against the Centre's Agnipath scheme, saying it does not endorse any indecent remarks against the prime minister.
Pressure from the Soren clan is only one of the challenges Champai faces as he readies himself to helm the predominantly tribal state.
The Babri Masjid Action Committee meeting was held against the backdrop of the apex court recently asking parties involved to sit together and arrive at a consensus on the issue, which has been dragging on for decades.
"Let them hear us, we are prepared. But we are not ready for out-of-court settlement," Jilani said.
The Congress released its second list of 71 candidates on Tuesday night. It is an interesting list, considering the names which have been taken on and the ones which were dropped. Renu Mittal reports
They said it was then prime minister Rajiv Gandhi who on February 1, 1986 got the permission for starting prayers at the disputed site and got the locks opened.
Here are some of the big political leaders' who await their fate on Monday.
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