Raipur, November 24, 2025 : With the objective of strengthening Chhattisgarh’s food security and expanding opportunities in agriculture-based industries, Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai met Union Minister for Food and Consumer Affairs Shri Chirag Paswan in New Delhi today. The meeting, held at the Minister’s office, was marked by a constructive and forward-looking dialogue on several public welfare issues concerning the state. Chief Minister Shri Sai drew particular attention to enhancing food safety systems, accelerating agro-industrial growth, and unlocking the full potential of the food processing sector in Chhattisgarh.
Chief Minister Shri Sai urged the Union Minister to consider establishing the National Institute of Food Technology, Entrepreneurship and Management (NIFTEM) in Chhattisgarh. He stated that such an institution would equip the youth with advanced training in food technology, entrepreneurship, and emerging employment avenues. Highlighting the state’s strong agricultural base, he emphasized that a NIFTEM campus would directly benefit thousands of students, farmers, and food-based enterprises across the region.
Union Minister Shri Chirag Paswan received the proposal positively and assured Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai that he would extend every possible support and examine the matter with due seriousness.
During the meeting, Chief Minister Shri Sai also proposed that a regional summit of World Food India be hosted in Raipur. He underlined that Raipur’s rich culinary heritage, excellent connectivity, and natural diversity make it an ideal destination for such a prestigious event. The summit, he said, would help showcase regional food traditions on the global stage and create major opportunities for emerging food-based enterprises. He suggested that the festival be organised every two years, modeled on World Food India in Delhi or the North East Food Fest in Guwahati.
Chief Minister Shri Sai further informed the Union Minister that the state intends to establish a food testing laboratory and a food irradiation unit to ensure the safety and longevity of food products—projects for which central support has been sought. He added that increased participation of large investors in paddy and fruit–vegetable–based industries will significantly benefit farmers, women’s self-help groups, and rural livelihoods.
Chief Minister Shri Sai added that Chhattisgarh’s new industrial policy places special emphasis on the food processing sector and offers several incentives for investors. Under this framework, ‘Drools’ is investing ₹1,000 crore in the state, a project expected to generate around 3,000 jobs and extend socio-economic benefits to rural and tribal communities.
He also reiterated the state’s goal of developing Chhattisgarh into a major rice bran oil hub, thereby reducing dependence on edible oil imports and contributing to the national vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat. “The dream of an Aatmanirbhar Chhattisgarh and a Viksit Bharat 2047 will be realized through such collective and determined efforts,” he said.
Present at the meeting were Chief Minister’s Principal Secretary Shri Subodh Kumar Singh, Secretary Shri Rahul Bhagat, and Investment Commissioner Smt. Ritu Sen.
