The document discusses the status of food processing in Asian countries. It provides a brief history of food processing dating back thousands of years in China. The objectives of food processing are outlined as extending shelf life, preventing contamination, aiding transportation and storage, and making foods more appealing. Common food processing techniques used in Asia, such as drying, fermentation, pickling and freezing are also mentioned. Specific examples of processed foods from China, Bangladesh, Korea and Malaysia are then discussed. The document concludes with recommendations to develop the processed food industry through initiatives like food processing zones, regulatory frameworks, research and development programs, and government incentives.