Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 22: Minister of State for Industries and Commerce, Sajjad Ahmad Kichloo today underlined the significance of food processing industry and stated that the sector has the potential to become beacon of industrial development in the State.
The Minister said this while inaugurating a Seminar on “National Mission on Food Processing and Capacity Building”, which was attended by over 100 entrepreneurs at Riviera Inn, here today.
The programme is being organized by SIDCO in association with National Skills Foundation of India to make entrepreneurs aware about National Mission on Food Processing and to train and sensitize them on vital issues related to food processing.
Addressing the gathering, the Minister emphasized the need to provide fillip to the food processing sector by making certain technical interventions to boost the industry.
“The Food Processing Sector contributes 7 per cent to the country’s GDP and provides employment to about 13 million people directly,” he said, asking youth to lap up the opportunities of both skilled and unskilled jobs that are on offer in the growing sector.
“J&K is the highest temperate fruit producing State in the country. After tourism, the fruit industry is the most important industry in the State. So we have no dearth of quality raw material available with us,” the Minister said, adding the diverse agro-climatic conditions facilitate growth of different kinds of fruits and vegetables.
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