India’s food processing sector is set for a massive boost after the government signed agreements worth Rs 1.02 lakh crore with 26 domestic and global companies during the World Food India 2025 summit, according to a press statement by Ministry of Food Processing Industries on September 28.
The four-day event, hosted by the Ministry of Food Processing Industries at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, concluded on September 28 with what officials called one of the largest-ever investment announcements in the sector.
“These MoUs are projected to generate direct employment for over 64,000 people and create indirect opportunities for more than 10 lakh individuals,” the ministry said in a statement.
Who’s investing: from Reliance to Coca-Cola to Amul
The signatories read like a who’s who of the global and Indian food industry:
Reliance Consumer Products Ltd: Rs 40,000 crore to set up integrated food manufacturing facilities nationwide.
Coca-Cola India bottlers: Rs 25,760 crore (USD 2.96 billion) for greenfield and brownfield projects.
Amul (GCMMF), Nestlé India, Tata Consumer Products, Carlsberg India, and Lulu Group’s Fair Exports also signed major MoUs.
Other notable names include Patanjali Foods, Dabur India, Godrej Agrovet, AB InBev, Olam Food Ingredients, Haldiram, Mrs Bectors, Allana Consumer Products, Cremica Food Park, Bluepine Foods, and BL Agro.
Sectors covered: from dairy to ready-to-eat meals
The proposed investments cut across India’s entire food value chain:
Dairy, poultry and meat
Packaged and ready-to-eat foods
Alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages
Spices, condiments and confectionery
Fruits, vegetables and edible oils
This diversity, the statement said, ensures growth in both traditional agro-based industries and modern packaged food categories.
A pan-India footprint
The projects will be spread across more than 15 states, including Gujarat, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Bihar, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Assam, Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand, Jammu & Kashmir, and the North-East.
This wide reach means the benefits of the investments, jobs, farmer linkages, and supply chain development won’t be confined to a handful of states but distributed across the country.
The ministry, supported by Invest India, has promised to work closely with stakeholders to ensure these commitments translate into factories, supply chains, and jobs on the ground.
“This event has laid a strong foundation for sustainable growth, innovation, and international collaboration,” the ministry said, calling it a milestone for India’s food systems.
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