Release of Policy Brief
Carbonated Beverages Industry in India:
Tax Policy to Promote Growth, Innovation and Investment

Date: September 30, 2024, Venue: Juniper Hall, India Habitat Centre, Lodhi Road, New Delhi

PROGRAMME

02:30 – 03:00 pm : Registration and Tea/Coffee

03:00 – 04:00 pm : Welcome Address
Dr. Deepak Mishra, Director and Chief Executive, Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER)

Chair
Mr. Jagdish Prasad Meena, Secretary General, Indian Beverage Association (IBA); and Former Secretary, Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MOFPI)

Keynote Address
Shri Praveen Khandelwal, MP – Lok Sabha and Member, Standing Committee on Commerce, Government of India

Special Address
• Dr. Tarun Bajaj, Director – BEDF, Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) on “Boosting India’s Non-Alcoholic Beverage Export Market”
• Mr. Gaurav Sishodia, Vice President, Invest India on “Making India a Global Beverage Hub”

Release of the ICRIER Policy Brief – “Carbonated Beverages Industry in India: Tax Policy to Promote Growth, Innovation and Investment” co-authored by Arpita Mukherjee, and Eshana Mukherjee, published by Academic Foundation.

Presentation of Key Findings
Dr. Arpita Mukherjee, Professor, ICRIER [Download Presentation]

Discussant
Dr. Subba Rao M. Gavaravarapu, Scientist ‘F’ & Head, Nutrition Information, Communication & Health Education (NICHE), Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR); and Secretary, Nutrition Society of India (NSI)

04:00 – 04:15 pm : Tea/Coffee Break

04:15 – 05:15 pm : Panel Discussion on “Evidence based rationalization of GST on carbonated drinks will boost investment and innovation in the sector”

Moderator
Dr. Seema Puri, Professor (Retd.), Institute of Home Economics, University of Delhi

Panelists
• Mr. Jagdish Prasad Meena, Secretary General, Indian Beverage Association (IBA); and Former Secretary, Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MOFPI)
• Ms. Naaznin Husein, Founder Director – Freedom Wellness Management; and National Executive Committee Member – Indian Dietetic Association – Mumbai Chapter
• Mr. Arjun Raghavendra, Arguing Counsel & Legal Advisor, DeepStrat; and ex-Indian Revenue Service (IRS)
• Dr. Bipin Sapra, Partner – Leader, Indirect Tax & Economic Policy, Ernst & Young India
• Mr. Vivan Sharan, Partner, Koan Advisory Group

05:15 – 05:30 pm : Question and Answer

05:30 – 05:35 pm : Vote of Thanks
Ms. Eshana Mukherjee, External Consultant, ICRIER

05:35 pm onwards : High-Tea