Indusfood 2026: APEDA’s Bharati Fuels F&B Startups

RR Team

1 day ago

Shri Chirag Paswan, Union Minister of Food Processing Industries, inaugurated the 9th edition of Indusfood 2026 at Expo Mart, Greater Noida on 8th January 2026. Recognized as Asia’s premier food and beverage trade show, this year’s edition spanned 120,000 square meters, making it the largest to date. The inauguration was attended by Shri Abhishek Dev, Chairman APEDA, Mr. Mohit Singla, Chairman Trade Promotion Council of India, Mr. Jens Wolfgang Michel, CEO Abu Dhabi Food Hub, and other industry leaders, buyers, and global F&B stakeholders.

In his address, Shri Paswan emphasized the government’s support for the sector, stating, “The existence of a dedicated Ministry for food processing underlines its strategic importance. Our role is to bridge the gap between government policies and industry needs.” He congratulated the Trade Promotion Council of India for successfully organizing the largest Indusfood edition and providing a robust platform for industry engagement.

The Minister highlighted that India, now a food surplus nation, must convert volume into value to leverage its potential as the global food basket. He emphasized government support for entrepreneurs through initiatives like the PM Formalization of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME), Pradhan Mantri Kisan SAMPADA Yojana (PMKSY), and the National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management, which is set to expand its scope to additional states.

Shri Paswan further noted the positive impact of GST reforms in reducing tax rates on the sector, now in the lowest slab of 0% or 5%, thereby improving market access for domestic and export-oriented enterprises. He also invited global food brands to set up R&D centers in India, leveraging the country’s diversity and innovation potential.

APEDA launched its BHARATI initiative (Bharat’s Hub for Agritech, Resilience, Advancement, and Incubation for Export Enablement) to support agri-food and agri-tech startups, encouraging innovation and creating new export opportunities for young entrepreneurs. Shri Abhishek Dev, APEDA Chairman, explained that the initiative aims to empower startups in the agri sector and strengthen India’s position in global food exports.

The Trade Promotion Council of India highlighted that Indusfood 2026 featured over 2,200 exhibitors from more than 30 countries, attracting 15,000+ buyers from 120+ nations. Two new pavilions Pet Food & Animal Nutrition and Cookware & Kitchenware were introduced to address emerging global demand shaped by lifestyle shifts, wellness trends, premiumization, and sustainability considerations.

In partnership with IFCA, TPCI hosted the World Culinary Heritage Conference 2026 along with 40+ knowledge events featuring 150+ speakers on topics such as investment, exports, regulations, AI, automation, and food ecosystems. Mr. Jens Wolfgang Michel emphasized India–UAE synergies in sustainable trade and announced an MoU for the India–UAE Food Corridor.

India’s F&B exports stood at USD 47.3 billion in 2024–25, with processed food exports reaching USD 7.9 billion, led by cocoa and related products. The Minister stressed the importance of continued collaboration between government and industry to unlock India’s full potential in the global F&B market.