The Agriculture, FMCG, and Food Processing Council aims to spearhead comprehensive discussions concerning critical issues within the Agriculture, FMCG, and Food Processing domains. The sectors have to operate in a complex and rapidly shifting policy space with a need to balance public good with a conducive business environment, which can be achieved by companies partnering with lawmakers to co-create enabling policies.

Domestic challenges include ease of doing business (EoDB), the multiplicity of laws, a complex tax system, IPR issues, intricate monitoring and compliance demands, and frequent policy changes. Simultaneously, global inflationary pressures, geopolitical developments, and issues related to supply chains and climate change have further clouded the operating environment.

These developments impact several of our members. The council aims to help foster an inclusive platform for meaningful dialogues with pertinent government stakeholders, industry bodies, and subject matter experts. These engagements will be facilitated through roundtable meetings and panel discussions. Over the short to medium term, these will contribute to processes that can assist in fast-track legislation, help partner with the government on EoDB, streamline the multiplicity of policies, as well as help mainstream innovations.

Devashish Dasgupta, Managing Committee member, PAFI, and Head – Government & Corporate Affairs, Hindustan Unilever Limited, will chair the council for 2023-24.