Vijayawada: APFPIF seeks incentives, subsidies

Vijayawada: The Andhra Pradesh Food Processing Industries Federation (APFPIF) which met here on Friday welcomed the State government move to bring the food processing industry under the purview of the Ministry of Agriculture which would help the food processing industry to develop rapidly in the State.

Federation president Potluri Bhaskar Rao appealed to the State government in a statement here on Saturday to release the pending industrial incentives and subsidies of Rs 100 crore accumulated over the years for the food processing sector.

Expressing concern over the economic slowdown and Covid-19 both at global and national level that has badly impacted the performance of the industry, he said that if the situation continued majority of the units might turn into non-performing assets. He recalled that the food processing industry is the mass employment-oriented sector directly supporting rural economy. "The precarious economic outlook is giving sleepless nights to the industry which is eagerly looking for helping hand to survive," he said. He said that the release of incentives would be a kind gesture from the State government that would instill confidence among investors and industrialists to consider the State as preferred destination for investment in food processing sector.

The meeting, attended by the committee members and members from all over the State, elected the new office-bearers of the Andhra Pradesh Food Processing Industries Federation.

Potluri Bhaskara Rao, founder president, Datla Tirupati Raju as president, Mulpuri Ravi Kumar as the general secretary, Bala Sekhar Reddy and Keshav as joint secretaries, Rami Reddy as the treasurer, and P Srinivasa Rao, G Vijay Kumar, N Ramakrishna, P Ram Mohan, Krishna Reddy and Nagveer as members were elected.