Food Sector employs over 10 Lakh people in Telangana: Rajkumar Ohatkar
Hyderabad, July 31, 2025 : A full-day summit on “Food Packaging and Preservation Technologies” was organised by the Federation of Telangana Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FTCCI) on Wednesday at the FTCCI Surana Auditorium, Federation House, Red Hills, Hyderabad.
Sri Rajkumar Ohatkar, Additional Director of Industries, Government of Telangana, the Chief Guest, highlighted the significant contribution of the food sector to employment in the state. “The food sector provides jobs to over 10 lakh people in Telangana, with the MSME segment alone accounting for over 9.23 lakh jobs across 62,000 small and 25,000 medium enterprises,” he stated. He also detailed various initiatives undertaken by the department to boost the sector.
In his welcome address, Sri K. K. Maheshwari, Senior Vice President, FTCCI, noted that “India’s food processing sector is among the largest in the world, with an ambitious vision to cross $535 billion by 2025–26. Packaging and preservation technologies are crucial to realising this goal.”
Sri S. Chandra Mohan, Chairman of FTCCI’s Agro & Food Processing Committee, emphasised that food packaging and preservation have evolved beyond their basic functions.
“They are now strategic enablers of competitiveness, sustainability, and consumer trust. Innovation in packaging ensures not just shelf life and safety, but also addresses traceability, regulatory compliance, and eco-conscious practices,” he said.
The summit featured multiple knowledge-driven sessions by leading industry experts, covering emerging trends, regulatory frameworks, smart packaging solutions, and real-world case studies:
Chakravarthi AVPS, Global Ambassador, World Packaging Organisation, delivered a keynote address. He highlighted the importance of the sector. Telangana processes25% of its agricultural input by adding 12.5% through food processing
“Smart, Safe & Sustainable – Packaging & Labelling” by Sri N. Nataraj, Deputy Director, Indian Institute of Packaging (IIP), Hyderabad
“Food Preservation Technologies (Retort, IQF, etc.)” by Sri K. Srinivasulu, Senior Technical Officer, CSIR–CFTRI, Hyderabad
“Regulatory Framework for Food Packaging: Compliance and Standards” by Smt. Chandanasree, Assistant Director, FSSAI
“Industry Case Study: Packaging Development” by Smt. Bithi Roy, Head – Packaging Development, Ravi Foods Pvt. Ltd.
“New Technology in Food Disinfection & Preservation” by Sri Vijayakumar Gupta Kopuri, Founder & CEO, LEDchip Indus Pvt. Ltd.
The summit witnessed active participation from around 100 delegates representing various sectors of the food and packaging industry.