New Delhi: The MD of Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation better know for Amul, R.S.Sodhi, Saturday announced that the federation would invest Rs 250 crore in om dairy sector in Odsiah.

Sodhi was speaking at the seminar on ‘Opportunities for Food Processing in Odisha’ held on the sidelines of World Food India 2017.

The MD said currently there is a supply gap of 30 lakh liters per day of milk in Odisha. He also disclosed that Odisha is the 2nd biggest market for Amul in India.

The Seminar was chaired by Odisha MSME minister Prafulla Samal.

The additional chief secretary, MSME,  LN Gupta, gave presentation on the Opportunities for Food Processing Industry in Odisha and said that with 10 Agro Climatc zones and 480 kms long coastline coupled with surplus production of cereals, rice & vegetables, Odisha offers an enormous opportunity for food processing industry. The seminar was also adressed by state agriculture principal secretary, Saurabh Garg, CMD Idco Sanjay Kumar Singh,  Indo Nissin Food  MD Gautam Sharma,  MD MITS Mega Food Park Sriram Panda, and Business Head of Mother Dairy, New Delhi,  P K Sahoo .  Indo -Nissin Foods MD disclosed his company’s plan to expand the capacity of the 12 tonnes per day plant.

Keventer Agro MD Mayank Jalan during their meeting with the Odisha delegation also expressed his company’s intention to set up a unit for Maize Processing unit, promote banana cultivation and set up a food processing laboratory in Odisha. Similarly, Tata Global Beverages have also shortlisted Odisha as the potential location for setting up of  a tea packaging unit over 20 acres of land with an investment of Rs 40 crores and employment to 400 people. AGT Foods, along with their co-promoters based in Canada also expressed their interest to make an investment of Rs 250 crore to set up a food processing unit near Paradeep. ITC representatives along with their subsidiary, Techno Technologies indicated to expedite setting up of their  of ITC Food Plant at Khurda. Besides, MD of Kijalk Agro, representatives of TCS, Godrej Tyson, Food from India Exim, Impeccable Innovations met the state delegation and expressed their interest to invest in Odisha.

The Odisha Pavilion in the WFI-2017 Expo with participation of more than 25 leading food processing companies of Odisha, has been the centre of attraction in the states’ pavilion and has been attracting the stream of visitors. Britannia, Indo Nission, Magma Foods, Milk Mantra, MITS Mega Food Park, Bharat Masala, Ruchi, Prime Agro, OMFED, Anmol, Paris Bakery, Cashew Association and Sea Food Association are participating and showcasing their products.