kolkata, West bengal Feb 12, 2023 (Issuewire.com) - Kolkata, the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal, also known as the 'City of Joy' is all set to host the 23rd edition of the India International Seafood Show from February 15 to 17 in 2023. The event is organised by the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA), in association with the Seafood Exporters Association of India (SEAI).

'IISS, The World's Seafood Basket' is the theme of the three-day event, to be held at the Biswa Bangla Mela Prangan in the city which will be hosting the event after a gap of 16 years.  More than 5,000 delegates from India and abroad are expected to participate in the IISS 2023.

The biennial event will offer a platform for seafood industry stakeholders to discover new growth avenues, explore new markets, sign new business deals, leverage market linkages, and introduce new technologies and products before a global audience.

The event will have over 350 stalls spread over 7,000 sqm, showcasing a wide range of products based on automated and IT-aided technology and energy-efficient systems for value addition.

Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Ms. Anupriya Patel will be inaugurating the Seafood Show and delivering the inaugural address. MPEDA Chairman Mr. Dodda Venkata Swamy IAS said the conclave would deliberate on measures to boost seafood production in the post-pandemic phase and chalk out an actionable roadmap for hassle-free exports of quality shrimps and other marine products from India.

Major topics during technical sessions, to be addressed by national and international experts, include 'Leveraging FTAs for better market access'; 'Global Shrimp Trade - Status and market prospects'; 'Market Access issues - Status and way forward'; 'Innovating to Improve Competitiveness of Shrimp Farming'; Modernisation of fishing harbours in India - Status and future plans'; 'Next Generation Refrigeration in seafood cold chain'; 'Black Tiger Shrimp - Signs of revival with special reference to India'; Value addition through indigenous seafood'; and IoT-based technology for aquaculture farm management.

Buyer-seller meet

An international buyer-seller meeting with particular emphasis on G20 countries will be organised along with IISS 2023. A technical session on various developments in the seafood industry and a special technical session on G20 countries will also be arranged parallel to the event.

Key Objectives

For India and its seafood industry, IISS 2023 will be a platform to choke out plans to regain buoyancy in seafood exports in the post-pandemic phase, especially in the face of stiff global competition and a stringent inspection regime imposed by the European Union and Japan on shrimp consignments.

Another objective is to highlight the country's commitment to sustainability in the entire value chain of seafood products, such as primary production, processing, and transportation. It will also deliberate on technological advances in processing, traceability, and value addition to products for export.

The event will provide an ideal platform for interaction between Indian exporters and overseas importers of the country's marine products. At the same time, manufacturers and suppliers would display and secure business deals for their processing machinery, packaging systems, processing ingredients, and cold chain systems. In addition, there will be an opening for service providers in the logistics and certifying/testing segments.

India Export Performance: An overview

During 2021-22, India exported 13,69,264 tons of marine products worth US$ 7.76 billion (INR 575.86 billion), registering an all-time high export by value, while shrimp production crossed one million MT. Frozen shrimp remained the major export item in quantity and value, accounting for a share of 53 percent in quantity and 75 percent of the total revenue. The USA was the largest market, with a 43.45 percent share in dollar terms, followed by China (15.14 percent), Europe (14.98 percent), and Southeast Asia (10.04 percent).

India's seafood exports are likely to reach an all-time high of US$ 8 billion in FY 2022-23, despite three years of a sluggish global market caused by the pandemic, logistical hurdles, and strict inspections of shrimp consignments, according to MPEDA.

The budgetary provision of INR 6,000 crore for the sub-scheme, Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana (PM-MKSSY), will boost the primary fish production, thereby increasing the availability of fish for export also. Access to institutional finance will give a fillip to the activities of fishers, fish vendors, and micro and small entrepreneurs, improve value chain efficiencies and expand the market.

Conference on Harmonisation of Regulations in July 2023

The MPEDA will hold a conference on the harmonisation of regulations for seafood among G-20 countries in July 2023. A major objective of the conference is to make various stakeholders in India's seafood industry aware of trade regulations and export prospects in the European countries, which are the third largest importer of our marine products.

Further, MPEDA will also hold a Shrimp Conference to bring together stakeholders in the shrimp value chain from the G-20 countries this year. A 'Fish Food Festival' will be organised in New Delhi this year, inviting Ambassadors from the top 20 markets of marine products, including G20 countries.

About MPEDA

The Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) is a statutory body functioning under the Department of Commerce, Government of India, and is responsible for the holistic development of the seafood industry in India. MPEDA regulates exports of marine products from India and takes all measures required for ensuring sustained, quality seafood exports from the country.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON IISS 2023, VISIT https://www.indianseafoodexpo.com/

Media Contact

Marine Products Export Development Authority

pub@mpeda.gov.in

http://mpeda.gov.in