From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji
Panaji, Jan 31: Goa can be a focus for promoting Indian wines abroad considering the huge number of foreign tourists arrival here, a senior bureaucrat said today.
“Goa can be a good place to promote Indian wines because there are large number of foreign tourists arrive here,” Ashok Sinha, Secretary, Union Ministry of Food Processing (MOFP) told a conference in Panaji.
Addressing national seminar on food processing organised by Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), Sinha said that Goa can be platform to showcase wines as Indian wines rather than branding them in the name of various companies.
“We should encourage Goa as a main point to showcase Indian wines,” he said adding that there is 25 to 30 per cent growth in the wine industry annually.
Sinha was one day long seminar which was inaugurated by Goa Chief minister Digambar Kamat.
The secretary stated that cleanliness and food safety practices in Goa can help the country brand itself as a food destination.
“Large number of foreigners who visit Goa can be ambassadors of our food culture if there is cleanliness and safety concept in the food processing industry,” he said adding that the industry has a challenging job ahead on the cleanliness and safety front.
He said that food processing in the key to the viability of agricultural sector. “It also results in deduction of wastage of agricultural produce and also gives value addition,” Sinha said adding that it can also be link to Industry and agriculture.
As per central government estimate, there are 1.6 million people working in the food processing industries which accounts to 14 per cent of the total industrial workforce.
With a specific reference to Goa, Sinha said that the state can develop clusters which can be a food hubs. “I have learnt that Goa has already taken steps in this regards. My ministry will sit with the officials and fulfill the requirement if any,” he assured.
He also said that Panaji city is an ideal place for the implementation of scheme giving infrastructure to the food street creation.
Speaking on the occasion, chief minister Kamat said that the state government had agriculture as a thrust during its last budget with the financial outlay by 147 per cent for this sector.
He said that the state has commissioned various subsidies for the farmers but they can be successful only if there is a proper food processing industry in place.