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India’s Food Processing & Blue Economy: Growth Opportunities Across the Value Chain

13/03/202613/03/2026

NICCI members and partners are invited to join this upcoming webinar organised by Invest India (EFTA Desk) in collaboration with the EFTA Secretariat, Geneva. The session will highlight investment opportunities across India’s food processing sector and the blue economy, including fisheries, aquaculture, and dairy.

Event Details

Date: 18 March 2026
Time: 10:00 – 11:00 CET
Format: Online Webinar
Organisers: Invest India (EFTA Desk) & EFTA Secretariat, Geneva

🔗 Register here:
https://lnkd.in/eZn2x7m4

About the Webinar

India’s food processing market currently stands at USD 339 billion (2024) and is projected to reach USD 726 billion by 2033, growing at an annual rate of 8.38%. India ranks first globally in milk and livestock production and second in fish production, yet processing levels across key sub-sectors remain well below their potential, creating significant opportunities for investment and technology partnership.

The India-EFTA Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA), which formalised a commitment of USD 100 billion in FDI from EFTA member states, provides a strong policy foundation for deeper sector collaboration. EFTA countries bring strengths in food technology, cold chain systems, sustainable aquaculture, and precision dairy processing that complement India’s growing requirements.

This webinar provides a focused platform for engagement between EFTA companies and Indian stakeholders and aims to:

  • Present India’s food and allied sector scale, growth trajectory, and investment climate
  • Highlight specific opportunities in fisheries, aquaculture, and dairy processing
  • Showcase government incentives and infrastructure supporting foreign investment
  • Identify opportunities for EFTA companies to partner in R&D, manufacturing, and supply chain development

Sub-sectors Covered

Food & Allied Sector Overview

India’s food processing ecosystem includes over 320 designated food parks and more than 390 cold chain projects, with 100% foreign direct investment permitted, making it well equipped for foreign partnership. Briefing Note_EFTA Food Process…

Key opportunities include:

  • Frozen, ready-to-cook and functional food processing (fruits and vegetables)
  • Food safety, testing and quality assurance technologies
  • Packaging and logistics solutions for export-ready products
  • Incentives under PMKSY, the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund, and the Cluster Development Programme

Aquaculture

India is one of the fastest-growing aquaculture markets in the world, supported by strong government focus on sustainable expansion, disease management, and export quality.

Opportunities include:

  • Shrimp and finfish hatchery technology
  • Feed formulation and disease diagnostics
  • Seaweed cultivation for food, pharmaceutical, and biofuel applications

Dairy

India produces roughly 25% of global milk output (239.3 MMT in 2023–24). The value-added dairy segment remains underdeveloped relative to its scale, creating opportunities such as: Briefing Note_EFTA Food Process…

  • Value-added processing including cheese, yogurt, functional dairy, and whey
  • Integrated cold chain systems from farm to retail
  • Milk testing, quality assurance, and traceability technologies
  • Support under the Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund

Fisheries & Blue Economy

India is the world’s second-largest fish producer, with production of 19.7 MMT and exports valued at USD 7.45 billion in 2024–25, yet only around 15% of fish is currently processed. Briefing Note_EFTA Food Process…

Key opportunities include:

  • Integrated seafood processing (RTE/RTC tuna, shrimp, seaweed)
  • Cold chain and post-harvest infrastructure
  • Traceability and circular economy solutions
  • Government support through PMMSY and the Fisheries Infrastructure Development Fund

Expected Outcomes

The webinar aims to:

  • Improve awareness among EFTA companies of India’s food processing and blue economy landscape, including government schemes, industrial clusters, incentives, and market scale
  • Identify investment and partnership opportunities across fisheries, aquaculture, dairy, and food processing
  • Strengthen institutional links between Invest India, the EFTA Secretariat, and industry stakeholders in EFTA member states
  • Facilitate follow-on bilateral engagements and investment opportunities in priority sectors

📅 Date: 18 March 2026
🕙 Time: 10:00 – 11:00 CET

REGISTER NOW