India International Seafood Show at Vishakhapatanam

VISAKHAPATNAM:
Safe and sustainable aquaculture is expected to give Indian seafood exports a major thrust by the year 2020. This was stated by the Chairman of the Marine Products Exports Development Authority (MPEDA), Dr A Jay
athilak, at a press conference today, at the port city of Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. Jayathilak was addressing the media ahead of the 20th edition of the India International Seafood Show (IISS), that takes off here tomorrow.
The three day event will be inaugurated by Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Commerce & Industry, Nirmala Sitaraman. Union Minister for Urban Development, Information & Broadcasting and Housing & Urban Poverty Alleviation, M Venkiah Naidu, and Union Minister of State for Ministry of Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, Y S Chowdary will also attend the event. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, N Chandrababu Naidu will deliver the Presidential address.
IISS will highlight India’s immense potential and capability in the fisheries sector.
Jayathilak stated that a multi-pronged strategy addressing capture fisheries and aquaculture, is expected to achieve an export turnover of US$ 10 billion by the year 2020. Sustainable methods of fishing and aquaculture production through diversification, particularly of L Vannemei, will aid this growth, he said. In 2015-16, India’s marine exports figures stood at US$ 4.7 billion (Rs. 30,420.83 crore), exporting 9,45,892 tonnes.
The show has received a tremendous response from international participants and more than one third of the stall area has been booked by 27 foreign companies. USA, Japan, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Spain, UK, Vietnam, China, Taiwan and Thailand are some of the major participants. “Around 200 overseas visitors and 1250 Indian delegates have already registered for the show, while a spot registration of about 500 visitors and over 2000 visitors is expected,” said Jayathilak. 117 Indian companies will als
o participate.
IISS, has turned out to be a massive success in the past, hugely benefitting the Indian seafood business. It has also provided a platform for manufacturers and suppliers of seafood processing machinery, packaging systems, certifications, processing ingredients, cold chain system and logistics. Technical sessions will be conducted by experts from the USFDA, Norwegian Embassy and European Commission and India alongside the show.
The show will be held from September 23-25 at the Port Trust Diamond Jubilee Stadium.