Himachal Pradesh has achieved national acclaim by securing the 2nd Runner-up position in the Medium State Category at the PMFME Conclave 2026, held at the India Habitat Centre, New Delhi. Organized by the Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI), the award was presented by Union Minister Chirag Paswan and received on behalf of the state by Joint Director of Industries Ramesh Verma.
Celebrating the milestone, Industries Minister Harshwardhan Chauhan emphasized that the award reflects Himachal Pradesh’s dedication to boosting micro food-processing enterprises, empowering Self-Help Groups (SHGs), and strengthening the rural economy. Principal Secretary (Industries) M. Sudha and Director of Industries Aaditya Negi commended the grassroots execution, highlighting ongoing efforts to expand incubation facilities and broaden credit access across local communities.
The event also honored individual excellence, presenting the Best District Nodal Officer Award to Sanjay Kanwar (DNO, Shimla) and the Best DRP Award to Ravinder Singh. Spotlighting local entrepreneurship, Aaryan Sharma and Shantanu Sharma of Ras Culinary Co. showcased their brand ‘Kulut Beverages’ at the PMFME Bazaar.
To date, Himachal Pradesh has sanctioned 2,906 loans worth ₹191.73 crore (backed by ₹73.17 crore in subsidies) and disbursed ₹59.29 crore in seed capital to over 16,000 SHG women. To further boost innovation, three dedicated incubation centers are currently being set up at Palampur, Kukumseri, and Nauni. Building on its prior national recognition from World Food India 2023, the state continues to strengthen its position as a rising hub for food processing.
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