ITC invests ₹1,500 crores for food and packaging plants in Madhya Pradesh, India
All image credits: ITC.04 Sep 2023 --- Indian conglomerate ITC yesterday laid the foundation of two new manufacturing facilities in Sehore, Madhya Pradesh, for a reported investment of ₹1,500 crores (approximately US$181 million). The integrated food manufacturing and logistics facility and a sustainable packaging products manufacturing facility cover nearly 57 acres (230,671 square meters).
The conglomerate details that the food plant will manufacture ITC’s Indian brands, such as Aashirvaad, Sunfeast biscuits and YiPPee noodles. At the same time, the molded fiber products facility will pioneer in sustainable packaging and is deemed to contribute to plastic substitution in packaging for electronic items, FMCG and the F&B sector.
At the event attended by Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, ITC chairman Sanjiv Puri said, “In line with our commitment to contribute to the socio-economic development of the state, we are now investing in two world-class facilities, including the Integrated Food Manufacturing and Logistics Facility and the Sustainable Packaging Products Manufacturing Facility at Sehore.”
“The facilities will also be landmarks in sustainability with the units being designed to [Indian Green Building Council] green building platinum standards.”
The foundation-laying event was attended by ITC chairman and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister among others.Building Indian value chain
ITC’s Packaging and Printing business includes carton board, flexible and tobacco packaging. As India’s leading company, ITC’s business is diversified into FMCG, Hotels, Packaging, Paperboards & Specialty Papers and Agri-Business.
According to local reports, the Chief Minister, while announcing the projects, said: “Today, Bhumi Pujan [foundation laying ceremony] has been done for two factories in Badiyakhedi [in Sehore district]. An investment of about ₹1,500 crores will happen here, so our 5,000 children will get employment.”
Chouhan further mentioned that the state government is looking forward to bringing in investments and providing ample opportunities to farmers and children in the second-largest state of India by area.
“There are limitations to farming. Our children should get permanent jobs, which is why there should be avenues other than farming,” he said.
ITC emphasized that the facility at Sehore is poised to add value to the state’s manufacturing sector and support inclusive agri-value chains. ITC “believes that the food processing sector, being at the intersection of agriculture, industry and services, can make a multi-dimensional contribution to the state’s economy by enhancing the competitiveness of the food value chain.”
By Radhika Sikaria
