Category: MIL-OSI

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Government of India

Secretary, Ministry of Cooperation Dr Ashish Kumar Bhutani inaugurates the state-of-the-art packaging facility of National Cooperative Organics Limited (NCOL) in Noida, Uttar Pradesh

The facility is dedicated to packaging pulses and organic products while maintaining the highest standards of hygiene and quality

Cooperation Secretary termed it as a major milestone in NCOL’s journey to promote and distribute high quality, organic products under the brand ‘Bharat Organics’

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has envisioned a greater role for cooperatives in making India the largest organic producer in the world

Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and guidance of Union Home and Cooperation Minister Shri Amit Shah, the Ministry is taking several initiatives to increase market access for organic produce of farmers

NCOL is passing on the benefits of its venture to its member farmers, thereby encouraging them to adopt organic farming in greater numbers

NCOL aims to ensure premium prices to farmers for their hard work towards organic farming and make organic food affordable and accessible to Indian consumers

Mother Dairy is committed to make ‘Bharat Organics’ available across its channels to benefit accessibility to the customer and it stands for purity & trust

Posted On: 24 APR 2025 7:29PM by PIB Delhi

Secretary, Ministry of Cooperation Dr Ashish Kumar Bhutani today addressed the inauguration of the state-of-the-art packaging facility of National Cooperative Organics Limited (NCOL) in Noida, Uttar Pradesh. Equipped with cutting-edge technology, the facility is designed to optimize efficiency while maintaining the highest standards of hygiene and quality. It is dedicated to the packaging of pulses and a wide range of organic food products.

Speaking at the occasion, Secretary, Ministry of Cooperation, Dr Ashish Kumar Bhutani said that the inauguration marks a major milestone in NCOL’s journey to promote and deliver high-quality, sustainable organic products under the ‘Bharat Organics’ brand.  He said that the NCOL has a huge role to play in empowering farmers and expanding access of market to genuine organic produce across India. He said Bharat Organics is making healthy food accessible to all for a healthier India.

Dr Bhutani said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and guidance of Union Home and Cooperation Minister Shri Amit Shah, the Ministry is taking several initiatives to increase market access for organic produce of farmers. Cooperation Secretary said that the inauguration of the packaging facility of NCOL marks a critical step in the organisation’s efforts to scale operations and expand the reach of certified organic produce, while delivering fair value to primary producers.

Dr Bhutani said that Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has envisioned a greater role for cooperatives in making India the largest organic producer in the world. Being in the cooperative sector, NCOL is passing on the benefits of its venture to its member farmers, thereby encouraging them to adopt organic farming in greater numbers.

With 21 organic products, including pulses, cereals, spices and sweetners, already launched, Bharat Organics is available through 200+ SAFAL outlets in Delhi NCR, It is also being launched across major e-commerce & Q-Com platforms like Swiggy, Blinkit, BigBasket, Amazon, Flipkart, etc. It is also available at all NCCF and NAFED, outlets, who also happen to be our promoter members. Bharat Organics shall soon be available across all Reliance outlets.

 

Speaking on the occasion, Chairman of NCOL Shri Meenesh Shah said that NCOL aims to ensure premium prices to farmers for their hard work towards organic farming and make organic food affordable and accessible to Indian consumers. He said NCOL lays extra emphasis on the authenticity of certified organic products under the Bharat Brand name, by mandatorily testing each batch for 245+ pesticide residues.

Speaking on the occasion, Managing Director of NCOL, Shri Vipul Mittal said that it is our proud privilege to launch this range of ‘Bharat Organics’ pulses, while celebrating the international year of cooperation, chaired by India in 2025. The packaging carries this logo along with a QR code to test authenticity of the product. The consumer can scan this code and check the PR test report of the said batch.

Addressing the event, the Managing Director of Mother Dairy Shri Manish Bandlish, emphasized that Mother Dairy is committed to make ‘Bharat Organics’ available across its channels to benefit accessibility to the customer. Mother Dairy stands for purity & trust for the last 50 years for the customers of Delhi.

NCOL was established by the Ministry of Cooperation, Government of India, in 2023 as an umbrella organization for the aggregation, procurement, certification, testing, branding, and marketing of organic products produced by the cooperative sector. NCOL operates with the support of relevant government ministries, following a “Whole of Government” approach, and is aligned with the national vision of “Sahkar se Samriddhi”.

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RK/VV/RR/PR/PS

(Release ID: 2124157) Visitor Counter : 36

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Government of India

Posted On: 24 APR 2025 7:58PM by PIB Delhi

A nine member delegation held the Joint Working Group on Trade and Investment meeting with the South African side in Pretoria, South Africa on 22nd – 23rd April, 2025. The discussions were held in a cordial and friendly atmosphere and were fruitful. There was enthusiastic response towards greater cooperation, addressing pending issues, boosting trade and investment, greater people to people contacts.

The JTC was co-chaired by Mr. Malose Letsoalo, Chief Director, Bilateral Trade Relations, The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition, Republic of South Africa; and Ms. Priya Nair, Economic Adviser Department of Commerce. Official delegation from India consisted of officials from High Commission of India in South Africa, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) and Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare. The officials of both India and South Africa actively engaged in the proceedings of the India-South Africa JWGTI.

Both sides explored potential areas of collaboration such as Pharmaceuticals, Healthcare, Agriculture, MSME, Jewelry manufacturing among others. Major points for discussion in JWGTI included revival of CEO Forum, investment cooperation, Market access issues with regard to agricultural products, Recognition of Indian Pharmacopoeia, Local Currency Settlement System, Fast payment systems/Unified Payment Linkage system, Discussion on India-SACU PTA etc. to further expand trade and economic ties between both the countries.

In a comprehensive dialogue, both sides undertook a detailed review of recent developments in bilateral trade and investment ties and acknowledged the vast untapped potential for further expansion. To this effect, both sides identified several areas of focus for enhancing both bilateral trade as well as mutually beneficial investments.

South Africa is the largest trading partner of India in the Africa region. Bilateral trade between India and South Africa stood at USD 19.25 billion in 2023-24. Indian businesses have invested over US$ 1.3 billion in South Africa from April 2000 to September 2024. These investments traverse diverse sectors, encompassing pharmaceuticals, IT, automotive, banking, and mining.

The deliberations of the 2nd Session of India-South Africa Joint Working Group on Trade and Investment on 22nd April, 2025 were cordial and forward-looking, indicative of the amicable and special relations between the two countries.

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Abhishek Dayal/Abhijith Narayanan

(Release ID: 2124166) Visitor Counter : 52

Source: Government of India

Posted On: 24 APR 2025 5:13PM by PIB Delhi

Ministry of Food Processing Industries, in collaboration with NIFTEM Kundli, is pleased to announce the second edition of SUFALAM (Start-Up Forum for Aspiring Leaders and Mentors), scheduled for April 25–26, 2025, at NIFTEM-K campus. Building on the success of its inaugural edition, this year’s conclave reinforces the Government of India’s commitment to fostering a vibrant start-up ecosystem in line with the vision of an ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’. The event aims to strengthen the food processing sector by promoting innovation, sustainability and entrepreneurship through targeted initiatives.

The two-day program will feature a series of activities designed to empower startups, facilitate knowledge sharing and create networking opportunities. Union Cabinet Minister, MoFPI Shri Chirag Paswan will inaugurate the conclave with a focus on enhancing ease of doing business for young entrepreneurs through government schemes and subsidies. NIFTEM-K will play a key role by providing mentorship, consultancy services and access to state-of-the-art infrastructure to support emerging startups.

The event will commence with keynote address by Prof. Harpal Singh from IIT Delhi, who will share insights from his entrepreneurial journey. Prof. Rakesh Mohan Joshi, Vice Chancellor of the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, New Delhi will join as the special guest for the occasion. Dr. Subrata Gupta, Secretary, Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI), will grace the occasion as the Guest of Honour.

 The events on first day will feature experience-sharing sessions where industry leaders and startups will share their entrepreneurial journeys and insights. A series of expert-led sessions will cover critical themes such as sustainable growth in food sector, branding, digital outreach, and government support. Highlights include a panel discussion on scaling businesses responsibly, featuring industry leaders like Mr. Abhishek Kakkar, Indian Angel Network and Mr. Durlabh Rawat, Barosi Foods. Another session on digital marketing strategies for food startups will be led by senior officials from MeitY and marketing experts such as Ms. Yashna Garg from Zeon Life Sciences.

 On the second day, young entrepreneurs will share their experiences in a session titled “Pep Talk by Budding Startups.” Speakers include Ms. Isha Jhawar of Reipeat Gud Pvt Ltd. known for her work in healthy, preservative free tomato ketchup and mayonnaise and Mr. Romi Kulthia of Atpata, who combines traditional knowledge with modern technology. Other participants, such as Mr. Priyanshu Raj of Aromaé and Ms. Palak Arora of SatGuru Superfoods, will discuss challenges in scaling and rural-urban market linkages. Sustainability-focused innovators like Mr. Anagh Goyal of 1.5 Degree will also share insights on climate-resilient business models.

Over 250 startups from 23 states across the country including Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Kerala, Manipur, Bihar, Odisha, Maharashtra, Arunachal Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh and Uttarakhand have already registered, showcasing the diverse innovation landscape of India. Some of the startups are likely to exhibit innovative technologies, such as cell cultured meat, plant-based foods, functional foods and rapid detection kits for contaminants and adulterants required for strengthening food processing and safety eco system in the country. Around 35 startups have registered to   pitch their ground-breaking ideas to esteemed evaluators from leading organizations such as Nestlé, Bühler Group, Eureka Analytical Systems Pvt. Ltd. and the Indian Angel Network. A dedicated session on sustainable food solutions, moderated by Dr. Siddharth Manvati of Clear Meat, will feature perspectives from industry veterans like Mr. Sanjay Khajuria, Former Director, Corporate Affairs & Sustainability, Nestle India and Mr. Hemendra Mathur, Bharat Innovation Fund.

Beyond formal sessions, the event will include networking opportunities through a Mentor Lounge and an exhibition showcasing innovations by startups and MSMEs. Reflecting on the conclave’s importance, Union Cabinet Minister, MoFPI Shri Chirag Paswan remarked, “SUFALAM 2025 underscores our commitment to nurturing entrepreneurship in the food sector. By equipping startups with the right tools and networks, we are paving the way for a more self-reliant India.” With over 300 participants, over 65 exhibitors representing 20 states across the country including entrepreneurs, investors and policymakers, the conclave aims to drive collaboration and accelerate growth in India’s food processing industry.

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Shahid

(Release ID: 2124088) Visitor Counter : 68

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Chief Executive John Lee, leading a Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government delegation, continued his visit to Zhejiang today.

This morning, Mr Lee and Secretary of the CPC Zhejiang Provincial Committee Wang Hao attended the High-Level Meeting and the First Plenary Session of the Hong Kong/Zhejiang Co-operation Conference, witnessing the establishment of the Hong Kong/Zhejiang Co-operation Conference Mechanism.

During the meeting, Mr Wang, Mr Lee and Zhejiang Governor Liu Jie saw the signing of the Hong Kong/Zhejiang Co-operation Conference Mechanism, the Co-operation Memorandum of the High-Level Meeting & First Plenary Session of the Hong Kong/Zhejiang Co-operation Conference, as well as four co-operation agreements.

By entering into the mechanism, Hong Kong and Zhejiang reached consensus on 13 co-operation areas. Meanwhile, the four co-operation agreements cover areas of innovation and technology (I&T), housing, economic and trade co-operation, and youth development.

Mr Lee noted that the new mechanism symbolises a new stage of comprehensive exchanges and co-operation between Hong Kong and Zhejiang, which is of great significance. He thanked Zhejiang Province and the Zhejiang Provincial Government for its importance and support attached to the mechanism, and said he looks forward to Hong Kong and Zhejiang working together and deepening co-operation on all fronts for mutual benefits.

He added that Hong Kong and Zhejiang will seize national opportunities and leverage their respective strengths to make new and greater contributions to the further reform and opening up of the country, and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

Furthermore, he stressed that Hong Kong will give full play to its role as a “super connector” and “super value-adder” to continue serving Zhejiang in expanding international markets.

After the meeting, Mr Lee called on Hangzhou Mayor Yao Gaoyuan and attended a luncheon hosted by Mr Yao.

The Chief Executive said that Hangzhou has made rapid achievements in the fields of the digital economy and artificial intelligence (AI) in recent years, while the Hong Kong SAR Government, also developing the AI industry proactively, has been implementing a series of measures to support AI development. Mr Lee expressed his confidence in the huge potential for co-operation between Hong Kong and Hangzhou in I&T, adding that under the new co-operation mechanism, exchanges and collaboration between Hong Kong and cities in Zhejiang, including Hangzhou, will be even closer.

In the afternoon, Mr Lee arrived in Ningbo, where he visited a local high-end scientific instrument manufacturing enterprise to learn more about its business development and projects in the manufacturing and research of optical instruments.

He also met entrepreneurs of Ningbo descent, and commended Ningbo entrepreneurs for their significant contributions to Hong Kong’s economic and social development over the years.

In the evening, Mr Lee met Secretary of CPC Ningbo Municipal Committee Peng Jiaxue, and attended a dinner hosted by Mr Peng.

Mr Lee said he believes that entrepreneurs in Hong Kong and Ningbo will continue to scale new heights and forge closer ties and co-operation, and that Hong Kong and Ningbo can achieve complementarity to make greater contributions to the country’s high-quality development.

The Chief Executive will attend the Hong Kong Investment Promotion Conference – Zhejiang (Ningbo) Forum & Ningbo-Hong Kong Economic Co-operation Forum tomorrow.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) today invited the public and the trade to send in their views on the proposed amendments to the Food & Drugs (Composition & Labelling) Regulations aiming to strengthen regulation of konjac-containing jelly confectionery.

The CFS made the proposals after reviewing the potential choking risks associated with the consumption of mini-cup konjac-containing jelly confectionery products, the regulatory practices of major economies concerning such products, and conducting a risk assessment.

It proposed that, if a mini-cup jelly confectionery product is with a height or width of 45mm or less, it shall not contain konjac.

Another proposal is to require all prepackaged konjac-containing jelly confectionery products to carry a label with a warning statement about the prevention of choking hazard in both English and Chinese: “Caution: Do not swallow whole. Elderly and children must consume under supervision.”

The CFS explained that while the Codex Alimentarius Commission considers konjac a safe food additive, improper consumption of mini-cup konjac jellies can increase the choking risk, particularly for children and elderly people, due to their unique product design and firm texture.

It has consulted the Expert Committee on Food Safety and engaged the trade through a meeting and a forum.

The Government initially proposes that the amendments to ban the sale of mini-cup konjac-containing jelly confectionery products with a height or width of 45mm or less, will take effect six months after passage of the amended regulations.

As for the labelling requirements for all konjac-containing jelly confectionery products, the Government proposes that they will come into operation 12 months after passage of the amended regulations.

Additionally, the CFS, in collaboration with the Education Bureau, has issued a letter to schools recommending that they cease selling or providing mini-cup konjac-containing jelly confectionery products with a height or width of 45mm or less in tuck shops and canteens.

Members of the public and the trade are welcome to offer their views on or before June 8. 

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The invitation for the expressions of interest (EOI) for a marina development at the Aberdeen Typhoon Shelter expansion area closed today, with the Development Bureau receiving eight submissions.
 
The organisations making the submissions include local and overseas developers, hotel/entertainment groups and marina developers/operators.
 
The bureau said it will consolidate and analyse the collected feedback to firm up the development parameters and requirements within this year for undertaking various technical assessments and statutory procedures.
 
It added that under the established approach, the development is anticipated for tendering in 2027. Alternatively, if a feasible market proposal is brought forward during the EOI exercise to speed up the process, the bureau will actively consider an earlier tender time.
 
An initiative for promoting yacht tourism, with plans to invite the market to construct and operate marinas at three locations, including the Aberdeen Typhoon Shelter expansion area, was announced in the 2024 Policy Address.
 
The Government plans to seek the Legislative Council’s funding approval next year to expand the Aberdeen Typhoon Shelter to increase sheltered space for public mooring under the Public Works Programme.
 
By seizing this opportunity, the Government hopes to utilise part of the expanded waterbody for the market to develop the marina and better leverage market forces to promote yacht tourism.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Over 6,400 students were granted scholarships and awards under the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government Scholarship Fund and the Self-financing Post-secondary Education Fund in the 2024-25 academic year.

Around 600 students with special educational needs were given the Endeavour Merit Award and the Endeavour Scholarship under the two funds.

Funds allocated through scholarships and awards totalled about $196 million, the Government said.

Secretary for Education Choi Yuk-lin presented certificates to the awardees under the two funds at a joint scholarship presentation ceremony.

Ms Choi said that the two scholarship schemes have successfully attracted outstanding non-local students to pursue their studies in Hong Kong by commending those with excellent performance in various aspects, thereby enhancing the city’s position as an international hub for post-secondary education.

She added that to tie in with the overall national development, the Education Bureau will adhere to the principle of integrity and innovation, and seize the development opportunities arising from the country’s Belt & Road initiatives, the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, etc, to deepen Hong Kong’s role as a cluster of talent and consolidate and develop the city’s advantages in education.

The HKSAR Government Scholarship Fund was established to encourage outstanding local students to advance their studies at home and meritorious non-local students to pursue higher education opportunities in Hong Kong.

In the 2024-25 academic year, about 1,200 local students and about 800 non-local students were awarded by the fund.

The Self-financing Post-secondary Scholarship Scheme, established under the Self-financing Post-secondary Education Fund, aims to promote high-quality and sustainable development in the self-financing post-secondary sector.

In the 2024-25 academic year, scholarships and awards were offered to about 2,400 students to pursue undergraduate studies, and to about 2,000 students pursuing studies at sub-degree level.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region