New Delhi, Sep 11 (NationPress) On Thursday, prominent CEOs from major food corporations made a commitment to ensure that the advantages of the recent GST rate cuts are transferred to consumers. This commitment was made during a meeting organized by the Ministry of Food Processing Industries in partnership with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). The roundtable, led by Chirag Paswan, the Minister of Food Processing Industries, served as a crucial platform for fostering open dialogue between government officials and industry leaders.

The executives also pledged to educate smaller businesses within the supply chain, ensuring that farmers gain better returns, while also promoting the objectives of import substitution and the 'Make in India' initiative. Industry leaders acknowledged that these reforms would not only reduce prices but also boost demand, ultimately fostering growth throughout the sector.

Discussions centered on the newly introduced Next-Generation GST Reforms, which streamline the tax structure into a more straightforward two-slab system of 5% and 18%.

These reforms are designed to simplify the tax framework, address inverted duty structures, and improve the ease of conducting business, all of which are expected to significantly benefit the food processing sector.

With major staples, dairy, bakery, and packaged food now classified under the 5% or nil tax category, the industry is set to experience greater affordability for consumers, enhanced liquidity for businesses, and increased competitiveness in both domestic and international markets.

During his keynote address, the minister reiterated the government's commitment to establishing an environment conducive to investment, innovation, and inclusive growth in the food processing sector. He urged industry leaders to ensure that the advantages of GST rationalization are fairly distributed across the value chain, from farmers and MSMEs to consumers.

Referencing the Prime Minister’s vision of “Reform, Perform, and Transform,” the Minister highlighted how the GST reforms have streamlined the tax structure, rectified long-standing discrepancies, and created new avenues for growth. He emphasized that food processing stands as one of the most significant beneficiaries of these reforms, deeming it a transformative measure for a sector that has the potential to not only enhance value addition but also curtail India’s reliance on imports.

The Minister asserted that today’s meeting aimed to enhance collective responsibility for the effective implementation of GST reforms. He called on the industry to actively ensure that the benefits reach consumers, boost product quality, formalize the unorganized sector, and secure better incomes for farmers.

Highlighting India’s position as the largest producer of numerous agricultural commodities, the Minister pointed out the challenges posed by low levels of value addition. He encouraged the industry to embrace these reforms as an opportunity to invest in technology, diversify product lines, and expand into international markets.

Industry leaders exchanged insights on export opportunities, product diversification, and technology adoption while also identifying areas needing further facilitation. The meeting concluded with a reaffirmation of the partnership between government and industry to unlock the sector’s full potential.

The Ministry also revealed that the 4th edition of World Food India will take place from 25th–28th September 2025 at Bharat Mandapam in Delhi. This premier global platform for the food processing industry will include B2B and B2G meetings, sector-specific roundtables, international exhibitions, buyer-seller interactions, and much more, offering unmatched opportunities for investment, innovation, and partnerships.