Japan's Mayewaka to support AP in food processing

Hyderabad, Feb 19 (INN): Japan's Mayewaka Manufacturing Company executives met Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu at his residence on Thursday and discussed the areas of collaboration between the state government and the company.

Following Chief Minister's visit to Japan last November, Mayewaka Manufacturing chairman Yoshiro Tanaka informed the Chief Minister about his visit to Srini Food Park in Chittoor district.

Tanaka explained that the company can support the state in bringing about technological improvements in the food processing sector of the state. He added that Mayewaka will seek Official Development Assistance (ODA) with Japanese government agencies such as METI, MAFF, JBIC, JETRO & JICA.

Tanaka said that the company is looking to bring investments worth $8-9 billion to the state.

He informed the Chief Minister that Mayekawa has already tied up with 24 potential companies, who are the customers of their technology in Japan and they want to bring them to invest in AP to construct a Mega Food Park.

While Special Chief Secretary (Planning) S.P. Tucker explained the opportunities for investments in the state, the Chief Minister asked Mr. Tanaka to identify a potential site near Krishnapatnam port for exports and enquired about the major food imports that are required by Japan.

Mayekawa chairman told officials that India's share of food exports to Japan is less and added that Japan has high demand for margarine oil, butter, chicken, tuna fish and shrimps. He also informed that Japan has greater demand for chicken (which they import from Brazil) than the current supply.

The GoAP and Mayekawa agreed to mutually identify the products which have the potential for processing and export from Andhra Pradesh. The GoAP will do research on the quality requirements for exporting food products to Japan. GoAP will soon establish a regulatory body to oversee the Marine and Aqua food produces quality in the state. Initially, AP can start exporting fish, rice, poultry and milk-based products to Japan.

An agribusiness group will be setup by GoAP involving CII and Mayekawa to attract Japanese investors to the state. This group will organize seminars in both Japan and Andhra Pradesh to inform investors regarding the opportunities in Food processing sector in the State. AP will build the food production capacity to meet Japanese requirements.

Special Chief Secretary (Planning) S.P. Tucker, Additional Secretary to Horticulture department V. Subbarao, First Secretary at the Embassy of Japan Tomoyuki Kuwaharada and other officials were present at the meeting.