Chennai, Aug 10: Mr P Venkataramanan, Minister for Food and Civil Supplies, Government of Tamil Nadu, visited the 16th edition of CII FoodPro 2026, India’s flagship exhibition on food processing, food technologies, packaging, cold chain, food safety and allied industries, at the Chennai Trade Centre. The Minister toured the exhibition stalls, interacted with exhibitors and launched the Exhibition Catalogue. Mr Harish, MLA, Alandur Constituency, was also present with the Minister.
“Food processing plays a vital role in connecting our farmers and their produce with consumers, while also creating opportunities for greater value addition. Products such as drumstick leaves, vegetables and other nutritious agricultural produce can be processed into powders, soups, tablets and other convenient forms, making them easier for people to consume while retaining their nutritional benefits,” the Minister said.
“Initiatives such as FoodPro provide an important platform for farmers, food processors and industry stakeholders to showcase such innovations and create greater awareness among the public. I encourage people to visit the exhibition, learn about the latest developments in food processing and explore how these innovations can contribute to a healthier and more sustainable Tamil Nadu,” he added.
Mr B Thiagarajan, Chairman, CII FoodPro 2026 and Managing Director, Blue Star Limited, said,
“CII FoodPro is aimed at creating business opportunities for MSMEs, and over the years the event has grown from strength to strength. Our focus has consistently been on ensuring food security, reducing wastage and strengthening the food processing industry – not only for domestic consumption but also for exports. Going forward, while FoodPro will continue to be held in Chennai once every two years, it will also travel to other states in the alternate years.”
Sharing his perspectives on the 16th edition, Mr Ravichandran Purushothaman, Chairman, CII Southern Region and President, Danfoss India, traced the journey of the flagship exhibition and the opportunity ahead for India’s food processing sector.
“FoodPro began its journey in 1995 and has today grown into one of India’s most important platforms for the food processing sector. The food industry is the vital link between agriculture and the consumer, and our focus at this edition is on food processing and value addition technologies, including cold chain and cold storage solutions that help preserve quality. The southern states have a natural strength in horticulture, and with Andhra Pradesh as Partner State, we have worked jointly on crops such as banana, chilli and mango, even as the State records remarkable growth in shrimp production. The sector also holds significant employment potential,” he said.
CII FoodPro 2026 is supported by the Ministry of Food Processing Industries and the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Government of India, with the Government of Tamil Nadu as Host State and the Governments of Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Maharashtra as Partner States. Spread across 8,000+ square metres with 250 exhibitions, the exhibition is expected to attract more than 20,000 business and trade visitors from India and overseas, and facilitates B2B, B2C and B2G meetings among industry stakeholders, technology providers, policymakers and buyers.