The food processing sector is gradually gaining momentum in the state. After a string of investment proposals from biggies in the sector like Britannia, ITC, Parle Agro Indo Nissin and Future Foods, another behemoth in the packaged food industry-Nestle has evinced interest in setting up a state-of-the-art food processing unit in the state at an investment of around Rs 500 crore.
The food processing facility of Nestle would be spread over 50 acres and the Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation of Orissa Ltd (Idco) has already identified land for the purpose between Bhubaneswar and Khurda, an official source told Business Standard.
Nestle India's Orissa facility will manufacture the entire gamut of the company's products including milk products, beverages, chocolates and confectionery.
Britannia Industries had recently announced that it will invest Rs 40-45 crore in setting up its second biscuit manufacturing unit in the state between Cuttack and Bhubaneswar. This unit would have a capacity to manufacture around 2500 tonnes of biscuits per month.
Presently, Britannia has a biscuit manufacturing unit at Mayurbhanj with a capacity to manufacture 1000 tonnes of biscuits per month.
Among the other big players in the food processing sector- Parle Agro's unit has been cleared by the State Level Single Window Clearance Authority while the site selection is underway for the proposed project of Indo Nissin Foods, the noodles maker.
ITC has so far remained non-responsive after initially evincing interest to invest in the food processing sector.
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International, a Kolkata-based export firm had also proposed to set up a maize processing complex in south Orissa’s Nabarangapur district at an investment of around Rs 150 crore.
It may be noted that IL&FS as a consultant to help boost investments in the food processing sector. Besides offering its expertise to help boost investments in the food processing sector, IL&FS will also offer its inputs to the state government in finalizing the food processing policy which would be notified soon.