Union Minister for Food Processing Industries Chirag Paswan inaugurated the PMFME Bazaar at the Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) Conclave 2026 in New Delhi, bringing together micro food entrepreneurs and traditional products from across the country.
The two-day conclave, being held on August 24–25 at the India Habitat Centre, has brought together more than 500 stakeholders, including representatives from States and Union Territories, financial institutions, government organisations, industry bodies, technical institutions and PMFME beneficiaries.
A major attraction of the conclave is the PMFME Bazaar, featuring exhibitors from 25 States and Union Territories. The exhibition showcases processed foods, millet-based products, spices, pickles, snacks, beverages and several traditional and region-specific products.
The platform is designed to help micro food enterprises, Self Help Groups (SHGs), Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), cooperatives and individual entrepreneurs connect with buyers and explore wider market opportunities.
During his visit to the exhibition, Paswan interacted with beneficiaries and exhibitors and appreciated their entrepreneurial efforts. He emphasised that the growth of micro food enterprises requires support beyond financial assistance, particularly in technology, capacity building, quality improvement, branding and market access.
A Coffee Table Book featuring 30 success stories of PMFME beneficiaries was also launched during the inaugural programme. The Ministry unveiled FoodNova, its quarterly magazine covering developments, innovations and emerging trends in the food processing sector.
The conclave also witnessed the signing of three MoUs with the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) and NABKISAN Finance Ltd. The partnerships seek to strengthen market access and institutional linkages while opening opportunities in digital commerce, finance and export markets.
Sessions during the conclave are covering areas such as finance and sustainability, incubation and entrepreneurship, domestic and global market linkages, and strengthening SHG-led food enterprises through clusters and institutional support.
Through the conclave and the PMFME Bazaar, the Ministry aims to bring finance, technology, entrepreneurship and markets onto a common platform, helping micro enterprises transform local and traditional food products into competitive brands with wider reach.