Punjab Pavilion Draws Global Attention
New Delhi — Punjab made a strong impression at the World Food India 2025 event held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, with its pavilion standing out as one of the most vibrant showcases. Led by Punjab Cabinet Minister Sanjeev Arora, the state delegation highlighted its agricultural strengths and emerging opportunities in the food processing sector.
The Punjab State Knowledge Session, held under the theme “Flavouring the Future from Farm Gate to Global Plate — Unlocking Opportunities in Agro–Food Business”, presented the state’s roadmap for becoming a global hub in agro-food. The event was organized by the Ministry of Food Processing Industries, Government of India, and attracted significant participation from international and domestic investors.
Minister Highlights Punjab’s Potential
Addressing the gathering, Minister Arora underlined Punjab’s unique position as India’s agricultural powerhouse. He said, “Punjab has vast strength in the agricultural sector, and our food processing industry holds immense potential. We are making investor-friendly policies to ensure smooth business operations. Investors will receive all necessary clearances within 45 days.”
Arora added that an independent committee on food processing has been set up to shape the upcoming industrial policy. He assured full cooperation to entrepreneurs interested in investing, emphasizing that Punjab is ready to drive growth from its farms to global markets.
International Delegations Show Interest
The Punjab delegation attracted attention from several global players. Business groups including Lulu Group (UAE), Ziak Group (Russia), NCML, Jafza, Allonsons, Bitzer, Haldiram, and Bikaner met Minister Arora to explore potential collaborations.
According to state officials, these discussions centered on investment opportunities in cold chain infrastructure, food processing units, warehousing, and global export linkages. Many of these investors expressed confidence in Punjab’s policies and commitment to building world-class agro-food systems.
Central Minister Praises Punjab Pavilion
Union Food Processing Minister Chirag Paswan also visited the Punjab Pavilion, where he praised the innovative showcase of Punjab’s agro-food products. He assured that the central government will extend support and even promised to visit Punjab soon to review progress and investment opportunities firsthand.
The pavilion, featuring a wide range of processed foods, organic produce, and agri-tech innovations, attracted thousands of visitors during the event. Industry experts noted that Punjab’s pavilion reflected the state’s evolving image — from a traditional agricultural economy to a modern agro-industrial hub.
State Leadership and Industry Collaboration
The Punjab delegation was strengthened by the presence of senior officials including Rakhi Gupta Bhandari (IAS), Kamal Kishor Yadav (IAS, Administrative Secretary Industries and Commerce), Amit Dhaka (IAS, CEO Invest Punjab), and Seema Bansal (Vice-Chairperson, Punjab Development Council). The KPMG advisory team also assisted in presenting Punjab’s investment roadmap.
Their collective effort emphasized Punjab’s strong governance model, ensuring investors that both policy-level support and ground-level execution would be available to facilitate industrial growth.
Punjab’s Vision for a Global Agro-Food Hub
Punjab has long been known as the food bowl of India. However, with rising global demand for processed food and advanced agri-tech, the state now aims to position itself as an international agro-food business hub.
Minister Arora stressed that Punjab is not only producing for India but also creating value-added products for global markets. “Our farms will drive international growth, and our policies will ensure Punjab becomes the preferred destination for agro-food investments,” he said.
With World Food India 2025 serving as a global platform, Punjab’s leadership believes this event will pave the way for large-scale collaborations, technology transfers, and export opportunities.