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Mr. T.G. Bharath is leading Andhra Pradesh’s industrial transformation with a strong focus on global partnerships, investor facilitation, and sector-specific growth strategies. Under his leadership, the state is positioning itself as a premier destination for manufacturing, exports, and food processing investments.

Political Background:

• Cabinet Minister of State
• Joined politics in 2019
• Constituency: Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh
• Political Party: Telugu Desam
• Won by 25% margin from Kurnool constituency in 2024 state elections
• Led the formulation and launch of Andhra Pradesh’s Industrial and Food Processing policies within the first four months of assuming office, strengthening the state's investor-friendly framework.

Professional Background:

• Chairman & Managing Director, Sree Rayalseema Hi-Strength Hypo Ltd (Since 1999) a leading manufacturer of high-strength calcium hypochlorite, bleaching powder & Aluminium Sulphate
• President, TGB Youth Association- engaging youth volunteers for community service
• President, TGV Sports & Development- addressing the sports need of the disadvantaged
• Honarary President, Kurnool Chamber of Commerce- representing the interests of local Kurnool industry

Educational Background:

• MBA, Cardiff University, UK
• Bachelors of Commerce, Osmania College, Kurnool, India

Personal Background:

• Age: 48 years
• Business Excellence Award 2017 for Manufacturing (Hyderabad Media House Ltd.)
• Udyog Rattan Award 2013(translated as the Jewel of Industry Award) for outstanding contribution to the economic development of country (Institute of Economic Studies)

Vision

• Position Andhra Pradesh as a leading global investment destination for industry and manufacturing
• Strengthen MSMEs and large-scale industries.
• Promote export-oriented growth and global competitiveness.
• Encourage sustainable and innovation-driven manufacturing.
• Boost food processing infrastructure and Agri-value chains.
 
Key Focus Areas

• Industrial corridor development.
• Investor facilitation and policy support.
• Ease of Doing Business reforms.
• Food processing parks and cold chain infrastructure.
• Public-private partnerships and cluster development.

Service: Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Assam-Meghalaya Cadre (1994 Batch).

Current Position: Secretary, Ministry of Food Processing Industries, Government of India (Since 4th July 2025).
Over his distinguished career in the Indian Administrative Service (1994 batch, Assam- Meghalaya cadre), Shri Avinash Joshi has held several pivotal assignments at both the Centre and in the states of Assam and Gujarat. At the Government of India, he has served as Additional Secretary in the Department of Personnel & Training (2024-2025), Managing Director in ONGC Petro additions Limited in the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas (2017-2019), and Director in the Department of Commerce (2012-2013). In his cadre and inter-cadre postings, he has held leadership roles including Additional Chief Secretary, Home & Political Department, Assam (2024); Principal Secretary for Health & Family Welfare, Environment & Forests, Excise, Disaster Management, Water Resources, Mines & Minerals, Sports & Youth Affairs and Public Health Engineering (2019-2024).

Earlier in his career, he served as Commissioner, Panchayats and Rural Development, Mission Director of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, and Deputy Commissioner of Kamrup and Dhubri districts in Assam. He was also District Collector and Magistrate of Sabarkantha in Gujarat and held significant assignments in education, water resources, and personnel training and gained extensive experience across governance, public administration, infrastructure, social development, and resource management.

Dr. Satyen Kumar Panda is a senior food safety professional currently serving as the Executive Director (Regulatory Compliance, TICD, Regional Office) and Advisor (Quality Assurance) at the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). He holds a Ph.D. and has a strong background in seafood quality assurance, microbial testing, and food safety standards.

Dr. Panda has been instrumental in steering FSSAI's quality assurance initiatives. He has led significant projects, including the nationwide survey on milk and milk products across 766 districts, aimed at combating adulteration and ensuring compliance with food safety standards. He is also a Member of Scientific Panel for Fish and Fishery Products, FSSAI. 

Before his tenure at FSSAI, Dr. Panda served as a Principal Scientist at the Central Institute of Fisheries Technology (CIFT), where he focused on seafood quality assurance, microbial challenge testing, and heavy metal contamination.  
 

Dr. Bhawana is the Director (Regulation) at the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). She holds an M.Sc. in Food Technology from Guru Jambheshwar University of Science & Technology, Hisar, and a Ph.D. in Dairy Chemistry from the National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal.

Prior to joining FSSAI, Dr. Bhawana served for nearly 14 years at the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), with expertise spanning food and agriculture standards and international relations. She managed the ISO Subcommittee on Spices, Culinary Herbs and Condiments and coordinated BIS committees on dairy products, oils and oilseeds, and stimulant foods. She has represented India at several international forums, including ISO technical committees and Codex meetings, contributing to global standards on spices, tea, cereals and pulses, oils and oilseeds. Dr. Bhawana has also completed specialized professional training as a Lead Auditor for ISO 9001:2015 (Quality Management Systems) and ISO 22000:2018 (Food Safety Management Systems), in addition to training in Laboratory Quality Management Systems and Internal Auditing in accordance with IS/ISO/IEC 17025.

Dr. Tarun Bajaj, Former Director, presently Senior Consultant, in Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Govt. of India. APEDA is mandated to promote and develop exports of agricultural and processed food products from India. He has more than 30 years of experience in handling exports of agricultural and processed food products including developing supply chain, quality assurance, market promotion abroad and handling marketing access issues. In the International Year of Millet 2023 he was given special responsibility to promote Millets in India and Abroad. He is doctorate in Economics, MBA & Specialized in Foreign Trade.

Mr. Hemant Malik was appointed as a Whole time Director on the Board of ITC effective August 12, 2023. He is Divisional Chief Executive of the Foods Business Division of the Company. After completing his B.A. from Delhi University and M.B.A. from the IIM, Calcutta, Mr. Malik joined ITC in 1989 and has more than 33 years of experience. Prior to becoming the Divisional Chief Executive of the Foods Business Division, he headed the Trade Marketing & Distribution ('TM&D') Vertical. He has worked across multiple businesses including Tobacco, Lifestyle Retailing and Packaged Foods.

He headed the All India Tobacco Sales function in 2001, where he contributed meaningfully to the development of the FMCG Sales Network. He assumed charge as Head of Marketing of the Foods Business in 2002. He became the Chief Operating Officer ('COO') of TM&D in 2008, where he was mandated to set up the new FMCG distribution highway.

Prashant is the General Manager, Mars Snacking, India and is a member of the commercial leadership team of Mars Snacking AMEA (Asia Pacific, Middle East, Africa) region.

Prashant comes with a rich experience of more than 25 years in the FMCG sector, particularly focused on food and as described in his own words “Food is a passion for me because of how close we get to the lives of consumers”.

Prior to this role, Prashant served as the Managing Director of Kellanova South Asia. Earlier, he was with Mondelez International, where he led the Indonesia business as President and Managing Director, and previously headed the chocolates business for Mondelez in India.

His extensive experience across foods, snacks, beverages and personal care categories spans diverse markets in Asia, Australia, New Zealand and Africa. He has also led the foods category for South Asia at Unilever, along with several senior roles in sales and marketing across Unilever’s operations in South Asia, Turkey, Africa, the Middle East, South East Asia and China.

Prashant is the Co-chair for FICCI Food processing committee; Core Group member on  CII committees.

He holds a Master’s degree in Business Management in Marketing & Strategy from Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta and a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Production) from Bombay University.

A Management Graduate from IRMA, Gujarat Mr. Sudhakar Rao Desai has more than 30 years of industry experience. He has been elected as the President of IVPA in September 2019. He is presently the Chairman of Agri and Food Council, Eastern India ASSOCHAM,(2019).

Mr. Desai is also an active member of Industry Trade Bodies like SEA (Solvent Extractors Association) and has served as the Director of Bombay Commodity Exchange.

He is part of the Organizing committee member of GlobOil and also a Member of Product Committee of Commodity Exchanges in India.

Prior to joining Emami Agrotech Limited as the CEO, Mr. Desai was with Bunge India Pvt. Ltd. as Director/Vice President. Earlier he worked as Chief Trader, with ITC Agrotech/ConAgra.