India is fast becoming a global magnet for Investors, especially in the food sector. Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted this during the inauguration of World Food India 2025 in New Delhi, pointing to the country’s unmatched diversity, rising demand, and massive scale as its key strengths.

With over 25 crore people lifted out of poverty in the past decade, Modi said India’s emerging neo middle class represents the nation’s most energetic and aspirational segment — a driving force for both domestic growth and global investor confidence.

🌍 India’s Unique Strength: Diversity, Demand & Scale

Addressing a packed audience at Bharat Mandapam, the Prime Minister said, “Every grain, every fruit, and every vegetable is produced in India. Our food and its taste change every hundred kilometers. This diversity makes India unique in the world.”

He stressed that this natural and cultural diversity translates into massive demand within the country, giving India a competitive advantage and making it a preferred Investors investment destination.

📈 Poverty Reduction & Rise of the Neo Middle Class

In a major achievement, Modi announced that 25 crore people have moved above the poverty line over the last 10 years. They now form the neo middle class, a demographic he described as India’s most aspirational and dynamic group.

This consumer base, he added, is Attracting Investors who see rising incomes and aspirations as key drivers for business growth, particularly in food and agriculture.

🚀 India as a Start-Up & Food Processing Powerhouse

The Prime Minister highlighted that India is now the third-largest start-up ecosystem in the world, with many innovations happening in food and agriculture.

He outlined several government measures that have boosted the food processing sector:

  • 100% FDI now permitted in the sector

  • Implementation of the PLI scheme for food processing

  • Expansion of mega food parks across the country

These policies have yielded results — India’s food processing capacity has grown 20 times in the last decade, while exports of processed foods have more than doubled.

🔧 Reforms & Next-Generation GST

Modi also stressed India’s reform-driven growth. He said the country is moving on a “new path of innovation and reforms”, with discussions underway on Next Generation GST reforms.

This, he added, will make India’s business environment even more Investors-friendly and efficient.

🤝 Global Partnerships: India & Russia

On the sidelines of the event, PM Modi met Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Patrushev. The two leaders discussed expanding cooperation in agriculture, fertilizers, and food processing.

Sharing his thoughts on X (formerly Twitter), Modi wrote:
“Happy to meet Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Patrushev at the World Food India 2025. We discussed ways to strengthen our win-win cooperation in agriculture, fertilisers, and food processing.”

🎪 World Food India 2025: Record Participation

Union Food Processing Industries Minister Chirag Paswan noted the growing scale of World Food India:

  • Exhibition area expanded from 49,000 sq m to 1.10 lakh sq m

  • Number of exhibitors rose from 800 to over 1,700

  • Participating countries increased to over 90

Additionally, an official statement announced that credit-linked support worth ₹770 crore will be provided to around 26,000 beneficiaries for micro-projects in the food processing sector, under the PM Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) Scheme.

✅ Conclusion

Prime Minister Modi’s address at World Food India 2025 underscored India’s journey toward becoming a global hub for food and agri-business investments. With its unmatched diversity, rising demand, large-scale operations, supportive reforms, and innovation ecosystem, India is positioning itself as a powerhouse of opportunities for investors worldwide.