Bihar and UAE partner to develop food processing park and expand agri-food exports

Dubai: Bihar is looking to strengthen its food processing and export ecosystem through a new partnership with the UAE. The State’s Industries Department has exchanged a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with AIM Global Foundation to promote a dedicated Food Processing Park in Bihar.

The MoU was exchanged during the AIM Congress 2026 in Dubai in the presence of Bihar Industries Minister Shreyasi Singh. Kundan Kumar, Secretary, Industries Department, Bihar, signed the agreement with Dawood Al-Shezawi, President of AIM Global Foundation. Industries Director Mukul Kumar Gupta was also present.

Under the partnership, Bihar and AIM Global Foundation will work towards developing an integrated agri-food and food processing cluster in the State.

The initiative aims to attract companies, institutions and investors from the UAE and wider Gulf region, while using Bihar’s agricultural base to develop a sourcing and processing platform for Gulf food supply chains.

The proposed Food Processing Park is expected to bring activities such as agricultural sourcing, processing and related industrial operations closer together. This could create opportunities for businesses involved in food processing and allied areas while strengthening links between agricultural production and larger markets.

The collaboration also includes efforts to facilitate land and industrial infrastructure for eligible projects.

Investors are expected to receive Single Window support to help navigate government approvals and services, along with access to applicable incentives under Bihar’s industrial policies. The partnership also seeks to mobilise UAE-based companies, institutions and investors for food processing and allied sectors.

For Bihar’s agriculture sector, the significance of the partnership lies in moving beyond the production of raw commodities towards greater value addition, processing and market access.

A stronger processing ecosystem can create demand for agricultural produce while opening opportunities across packaging, cold-chain, logistics and other supporting services. The proposed cluster could also help Bihar-based businesses connect with Gulf and international food supply chains.

However, the actual impact will depend on how quickly the proposed park moves from the MoU stage to infrastructure development, investor participation and commercial operations.

The agreement is part of Bihar’s wider efforts to attract international investment into its agri-food and industrial sectors. The State Industries Department said it will work with AIM Global Foundation to identify concrete investment opportunities and take the partnership forward ahead of Rising Bihar 2026.

For Bihar, the bigger opportunity is to build stronger connections between its farms, food processors, investors and international markets, allowing more agricultural value to be created within the State before products reach consumers.