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SAPLING Dialogue 2026 concludes with call for concrete action
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Friday, 12 June, 2026, 08 : 00 AM [IST]
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Our Bureau, New Delhi
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The two-day regional high-level policy dialogue ‘SAPLING (South Asian Policy Leadership for Improved Nutrition and Growth) Dialogue 2026’, jointly organised by the Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI), Government of India and the World Bank Group concluded successfully in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. The dialogue concluded with a strong call for a concrete action plan and deeper collaboration.
The dialogue, held under the theme ‘Unlocking Value: Advancing Food Processing for Employment Generation and Sustainable Growth in South Asia’, brought together around 200 participants including policymakers, industry leaders, international organisations, development partners, researchers, startups, financial institutions, and representatives from South Asian countries to deliberate on strengthening resilient, inclusive, and sustainable food systems in the region. The Union Minister for Ministry of Food Processing Industries, Chirag Paswan, while addressing the inaugural session, highlighted India’s growing role as a global food processing hub and emphasised the importance of value addition, technology adoption, and regional collaboration in transforming South Asia’s food economy.
Addressing the concluding session, Avinash Joshi, secretary, Ministry of Food Processing Industries Government of India emphasised that food processing is not merely an economic opportunity but a national and regional imperative for South Asia. Highlighting India’s commitment through its flagship schemes and long-term development vision, he reaffirmed that India stands ready to serve as both a catalyst and a committed partner in advancing regional food processing transformation. He further underlined that food processing-led growth must focus on employment generation, MSMEs, women entrepreneurs, and farmer welfare, ensuring that the benefits of growth reach rural communities and small businesses.
Highlighting the importance of collaboration, Joshi stated that governments, industry, and development institutions must work together to translate ideas into impactful action. He noted that the SAPLING Dialogue has demonstrated the strength of multi-stakeholder partnerships in advancing resilient and sustainable food systems across South Asia.
On behalf of the Ministry of Food Processing Industries, Joshi expressed deep appreciation to the World Bank Group and the entire SAPLING team for conceptualising and co-organising the dialogue. He also thanked the distinguished delegates from South Asian countries for their valuable contributions, noting that their perspectives enriched the deliberations and reinforced the spirit of regional solidarity and cooperation.
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