(a) whether the Government have invited other countries to make
investment in creating foodgrain storage capacities;
(b) if so, the countries that have been approached by India in this
regard; and
(c) the main conditions laid down by India for foreign investors in
this filed?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC
DISTRIBUTION ( SHRI SRIRAM CHAUHAN )
(a) The National Policy on Handling, Storage and Transportation of
foodgrains announced by the Government earlier this year seeks to reduce
storage and transit losses of foodgrains, to modernize the system of
handling, storage and transportation of foodgrains procured by the Food
Corporation of India and to harness efforts and resources of public and
private sectors, both domestic and foreign, to build and operate infrastruc
ture for bulk handling, storage and transportation of foodgrains in the
country.
(b) The Government has approached Argentina, Australia, Canada, France,
Japan, Korea , Netherlands, New Zealand, UK and USA seeking their
cooperation and assistance in identifying best companies in those countries
having international experience in the field of handling, storage and
transportation of foodgrains.
(c) The Developer-cum-Operators for such facilities will be selected
through the process of International Competitive Bidding.