The Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) is set to flag off 17 new mega food parks in various states across the country. The setting up of mega food parks, in the new scenario, is in accordance with the government’s revised guidelines under the Mega Food Parks Scheme effective from February 10, 2014.

In November 2014, MoFPI had called for Expressions of Interest (EoI) for empanelment of new project management consultants (PMCs) under the Mega Food Park Scheme. In response to applications received, 17 new investors were evaluated out of the total 72 eligible EoIs based on their documents submitted and presentations made to the PMCs, specifically constituted for this purpose.

Therefore, the setting up of 17 more mega food parks is under food processing ministry revised guidelines, which is in-principle approval to 25 projects in the third phase.

According to a MoFPI statement on its website, under the Mega Food Park Scheme, it expects to have 30-35 food processing units in each project on an average, with a collective investment of Rs 250 crore, which would eventually lead to an annual turnover of Rs 450-500 crore. This will create direct or indirect employment of about 30,000 persons and the actual configuration of the project would depend and vary on the business plan for Mega Food Park.