World Food India 2025 concludes with record deals

The four-day World Food India 2025 concluded today at Bharat Mandapam, Pragati Maidan, highlighting India’s growing prominence in global agri-food value chains. The event was inaugurated by the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India in the presence of the Deputy Prime Minister of Russia, Mr. Dmitry Patrushev, Union Ministers Shri Chirag Paswan and Shri Prataprao Jadhav, and Minister of State for Food Processing and Railways Shri Ravneet Singh. The summit brought together global leaders, policymakers, industry captains, and innovators to deliberate on the future of food and agriculture.

In his inaugural address, the Prime Minister underscored India’s role as a reliable global supplier, noting the country’s agricultural diversity and rising domestic demand. He highlighted government initiatives such as 100% FDI in the sector, the Production Linked Incentive Scheme, and Mega Food Parks. On this occasion, the Prime Minister also released credit-linked subsidies under the PMFME scheme to 26,000 beneficiaries for micro projects worth ₹2,518 crore, reflecting support for small-scale entrepreneurs.

Over the course of the summit, Memorandums of Understanding worth over ₹1,02,000 crore were signed, representing one of the largest investment commitments in India’s food processing sector. The Ministry of Food Processing Industries facilitated collaborations with academic and research institutions, including NIFTEM-T and NIFTEM-K, focusing on technology transfer, food fortification, nutraceuticals, and start-up incubation.

The CEO Roundtable, co-chaired by Union Ministers Shri Nitin Gadkari and Shri Chirag Paswan, involved more than 100 CEOs from leading Indian and multinational companies. Discussions focused on sustainable investments, biodegradable packaging, waste valorisation, blue economy opportunities, and reforms in logistics and transport to enhance cost efficiency and competitiveness.

Government-to-government meetings reinforced India’s international partnerships. Delegations from Russia, Sri Lanka, Morocco, Maldives, Portugal, New Zealand, Zimbabwe, Uganda, Eswatini, Côte d’Ivoire, and Kuwait engaged with Indian counterparts to explore collaboration in agriculture and food processing, strengthening India’s role in global food value chains.

The technical agenda included over 40 sessions led by partner and focus states, ministries, international organisations, and industry associations. Sessions addressed opportunities in pet food, nutraceuticals, plant-based foods, alcoholic beverages, and specialty foods. The 3rd Global Food Regulators Summit provided a platform for discussions on digital tools for risk management, food safety through public-private partnerships, next-generation regulatory skills, and nutrition-led strategies to address obesity.

The event witnessed strong industry and public participation, with more than 10,500 B2B meetings, 261 G2G meetings, and over 18,000 reverse buyer-seller interactions. Cumulative footfall exceeded 95,000, highlighting the scale of engagement.

Parallel to World Food India, the 24th India International Seafood Show was inaugurated by Union Minister Shri Chirag Paswan on 25 September at Pragati Maidan. Organised by the Marine Products Export Development Authority, the show included technical sessions, industry lectures, roundtables, and reverse buyer-seller meetings, focusing on enhancing India’s seafood export potential.

World Food India 2025 concluded by reaffirming India’s emergence as a global hub for food processing, innovation, and sustainable practices. The summit achieved record-breaking investment commitments, strengthened international partnerships, and set a foundation for future growth in the country’s agri-food sector.