INDUSTRY.co.id - Bogor- Balai Besar Industri Agro (BBIA) and the Government of India will cooperate in research and development (R & D) to improve the competitiveness of food and beverage industry (Mamin) to be more competitive in global level.

This was conveyed by Head of BBIA Bogor, Umar Habson after receiving the visit of Minister of Food Processing Industry of India, Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti to Agro Industry Center (BBIA) Ministry of Industry in Bogor, West Java (23/8/2017).

"The development of the food and beverage industry sector requires continuous innovation, therefore the importance of research and development (R & D)," he said.

Therefore, BBIA is committed to increasing competency as a research center and industrial technical service provider such as food testing, ISO and SNI certification, training to consultancy.

"Indonesia has a very abundant natural resource capital, but still needs to pursue the latest technological developments by learning from other countries," said Umar.

According to Ngakan, the food and wholesale markets in India are the sixth largest in the world. The annual growth rate of the Indian food processing sector is over seven percent.

In addition, the Indian food industry marketed online grew 150 percent by 2016. In fact, India became the largest diversified production base at 42 Mega Food Parks.

Based on the records of the Ministry of Industry, the national food and beverage industry recorded a growth of 7.19 percent in the second quarter of 2017. This achievement has contributed to the contribution of this flagship manufacturing to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of non-oil and gas industry which reached 34.42 percent or the highest Compared to other sectors.

Meanwhile, the export value of food and beverage products including palm oil in January-June 2017 reached USD15, 4 billion.

"This performance has a positive trade balance when compared to imports of food and beverage products in the same period of USD4.8 billion," he concluded.