Jharkhand CM invites China's investment in food processing units

Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das has invited Chinese food processing companies to invest in the state, assuring investors of all possible support and cooperation from the government.

Das made the appeal on Wednesday during a visit to the food processing facility of Sanquan Foods Co Ltd in Zhengzhou, China. He was received by the company's Chairman Chen Zemin and other senior officials.

During his interaction with Zemin, the Chief Minister highlighted Jharkhand's potential in agriculture and food processing and said the state government was ready to facilitate investments and partnerships with Chinese companies.

“All possible help will be extended to investors,” Das said, adding that meetings with local companies could also be arranged to encourage technology transfer along with investment.

He said Jharkhand had already begun attracting investments in the food processing sector and expressed confidence that the state could emerge as one of India's major food processing hubs in the coming years.

Das also invited Chen Zemin and his company to participate in the Global Agriculture and Food Summit scheduled to be held in Jharkhand in November. The summit was expected to provide an opportunity for investors, businesses and policymakers to explore partnerships in agriculture, food processing and related industries.

According to a state government press release, Zemin took Das and his delegation through various sections of the Sanquan Foods facility, explaining the company's food processing, packaging and quality-testing operations.

Zemin assured the Chief Minister that the company would study the Indian market and examine the investment potential in Jharkhand's food processing sector.

The proposed cooperation could be significant for Jharkhand, which has substantial agricultural and horticultural resources but has also been looking to expand food processing and value-addition facilities. Greater investment in processing, packaging and cold-chain infrastructure could help reduce post-harvest losses while creating new markets and employment opportunities for farmers and workers in the state.