The 18th
Aahar International Exhibition for food, food processing, Hotel
and Restaurant Equipment and supplies will be held in Delhi
by India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO) in March 2003.
The fair is being organised with the support of the Ministry
of Food Processing Industries, Agricultural and Processed Food
Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), Association of
Resource Companies for the Hospitality Industry (ARCHI), Confederation
of Indian Food Trade and Industry (CIFTI) and All India Food
Processors Association. The Aahar exposition has been recognised
as Asia’s leading event on food technology.
The demand for
processed food in the country is on the rise with the average
Indian spending about 50 per cent of his household expenditure
on food items. Government of India is also keen to upgrade domestic
technology and enhance its international competitiveness. Several
policy initiatives have been taken to provide fresh impetus
into the food-processing sector including financial assistance
for infrastructure development, setting up of food processing
units etc. The Government has formulated a draft national food
processing policy for creation of enabling environments, infrastructural
development and promotion of linkages at farm levels.
In order to attract
overseas initiatives and investments in the sector, the food
processing sector has been deregulated and provision of licensing
has been dispensed with barring alcoholic beverages. With the
exception of a few cases automatic approval for foreign investment
upto 100 per cent has been allowed. From July 1991 when liberalisation
process started to December 2001, a total of 1162 approvals
involving an investment of US $ 4.03 billion has been granted
out of which foreign investment accounts for over US $ 2.04
billion.
The Aahar fair
will offer a platform for facilitating growth and modernisation
in the processed food and hospitality sectors. Its aim is in
tune with government efforts and objectives to promote these
vital areas of national economy. The fair has over the years
evolved into an ideal forum for initiation of joint venture
agreements and technology transfer processes which assures considerable
returns.
