India’s Make in India Increases Biotech and Food Boom
NEW DELHI — India’s “Make in India” initiative is attracting significant investments for biotechnology and food processing. March 11, 2025 Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 2014 program to turn India into a global manufacturing hub Now, it’s paying dividends with billions pouring into these strategically vital industries, backed by government support and global demand.
A Winning Plan Takes Off
The “Make in India” campaign is finally taking off. In biotechnology, the sector’s value soared to $137 billion in 2024, from $80 billion in 2020. Food processing isn’t far behind, valued at $535 billion by 2026. Both sectors are profiting from India’s drive for innovation, jobs and self-reliance. Foreign direct investment (FDI) has surged to $70.95 billion across sectors, in 2023-24 up from a mere $45.14 billion, in 2014-15.
Why the surge? Simple. India has low costs, an enormous market and friendly policies. Incentives, such as the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme with an outlay of $1.31 billion for food processing, have been introduced by the government. Pharma embraces National Biotechnology Development Strategy, targeting $150 billion by 2025 All these moves together are raising eyebrows globally.
Biotech Blossoms with Cash
India’s bio-tech scene is a hive of activity. The country is one of the top 12 biotech hubs in the world because of “Make in India.” Biotech FDI reached $1.2 billion in 2024 as the demand for vaccine production and sustainable farming technology continued. Firms such as Bharat Biotech, maker of the iNCOVACC COVID-19 nasal vaccine, demonstrate India’s muscle in this area.
The “Make in India” initiative has “given us wings,” Dr. Krishna Ella, the chairman of Bharat Biotech, said. “It’s about jobs and innovations.” In fact, the sector provides jobs for more than 5 million people. From genetically modified crops to biofertilizers, biotech tackles food security and climate challenges. Places like Bengaluru and Hyderabad are now biotech hotbeds and attract firms from the U.S. and Europe.
Government backing is key. Start-ups grow easily in the company of tax breaks, biotech parks and research grants. The Genome India project, which maps 10,000 genomes is a major win for us, putting India on the global map. Biotech’s future here looks bright, with a target of $300 billion by 2030.
Food Processing Feeds Growth
“Make in India” has another star under its food processing検! India, the world’s largest producer of milk and spices, is transforming raw products into gold. The sector’s output increased from $154.3 billion in 2022 to $180 billion in 2024. Processed foods averaged $10.81 billion in exports during 2023-24, compared with $4.9 billion a decade earlier.
The PLI scheme is a huge enabler, with $584 million spent by 2024. It has set up 41 Mega Food Parks and 348 cold chain projects, reducing wastages and strengthening supply chains. Micro food units also got a boost worth $1.2 billion from the PM Formalisation scheme. This enables small players to compete on a global scale.
So major players such as Nestlé and Adani Group are getting in on the action, with the latter investing $3.36 billion in Bihar on top of a considerable effort on food processing plants as well. In the other hand 100% FDI in food retail attract foreign money — $12.96 billion till now since 2000. And with 1.4 billion mouths to feed, India’s market is a growth magnet.
Challenges and Opportunities
It’s not all smooth sailing. High R&D costs and regulatory hoops for biotech. Food processing is hampered by labor shortages and export regulations. But “Make in India” addresses these directly. Clearing single windows and reducing taxes help lighten the load. The push for millets — marketed as 2023’s superfood — adds the trendy spin.
Both industries are rapid job creators. Food processing employs 20.05 million more, and biotech adds millions more. Rural areas benefit too, as farmers connect to modern markets. However, scaling up requires extra tech and training. The government’s $1 trillion infrastructure plan might clinch the deal.
What’s Ahead?
The “Make in India” train continues to roll. Biotech could reach $150 billion by the end of the year if trends continue. Food processing aims at $535 billion by 2026, driven by exports, city needs Next steps? Partnerships, technology, global brand. India’s selling itself as the world’s food basket and a biotech lab.
Success hinges on execution. Simpler rules and stable funding will drive investors back. If it succeeds, India could emerge at the forefront of both fields, with a stronger economy and greater global influence. For now, “Make in India” is showing it’s no mere slogan — it’s a cash machine.