Lucknow, 28 July (HS): Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister

Keshav Prasad Maurya stated that the state government is effectively

implementing the Uttar Pradesh Food Processing Industry Policy-2023 to promote

investment in the food processing sector, encourage agriculture-based

industries, increase farmers' income, and create widespread employment. He

stated that the policy's positive results are now clearly visible. The prompt

and transparent processing of investment proposals is steadily strengthening

investor confidence in the state's food processing industries.

The Deputy Chief Minister said that it is extremely

encouraging that the state's youth are moving beyond traditional and ancestral

occupations and toward establishing modern food processing industries.

Furthermore, women entrepreneurs are increasingly investing in this sector,

which bodes well for entrepreneurship and women's empowerment in the state. He

added that Uttar Pradesh is rapidly emerging as a safe, favorable, and

attractive investment destination for food processing industries.

In accordance with the instructions of Deputy Chief Minister

Keshav Prasad Maurya, a meeting of the Appraisal Committee constituted under

the Uttar Pradesh Food Processing Industry Policy-2023 was held on Monday at

the Silk Directorate in Gomtinagar under the chairmanship of Additional Chief

Secretary, Horticulture and Food Processing Department, B. L. Meena. In the

meeting, detailed discussions were held on 8 new investment proposals with a

total proposed investment amount of Rs 15.08 crore received through the online

portal. After technical and financial scrutiny, all the proposals were

recommended to be presented before the State Level Empowered Committee with the

necessary conditions.

The investment proposals considered in the meeting included

projects related to setting up and expansion of namkeen, bread and rusk, soya

based products, pasta, poultry feed and other food processing units as well as

setting up of on-grid rooftop solar power plants.

B.L. Meena urged investors to ensure maximum purchase of raw

materials from local farmers, thereby fostering strong coordination between

agriculture and industry. He also emphasized the need to ensure full compliance

with environmental, fire safety, and other statutory approvals. He also

directed that solar energy projects adhere to all technical and documentation

standards in accordance with the policy. It was also directed in the meeting

that the concerned investors should provide all the necessary documents

including bank appraisal, income tax and GST returns to the department within

the stipulated time period, so that timely and effective disposal of the

proposals can be ensured at the next level.

Hindusthan Samachar / Abhishek Awasthi