India International Seafood Show from Feb 8

Kochi, Feb 6 (UNI) Minister of State for Commerce Jairam Ramesh will inaugurate the three-day biennial India International Seafood Show (IISS) here on February 8.

The event, jointly organised by the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA), Union Ministry of Commerce&Industry and the Seafood Exporters Association of India (SEAI) intends to bring together Indian seafood processors and overseas buyers to explore opportunities for mutual benefits, MPEDA chairman G Mohan Kumar told mediapersons last night.

He said the deliberations and discussions in previous shows held in important cities in India, had been instrumental in facilitating the spectacular development of the seafood industry in the country.

Nearly 80 stalls would display a wide variety of seafood products, machineries and other inputs required for processing seafood in the fair, Mr Kumar added.

Around 600 delegates including 60 from 15 countries like China, Germany, Iceland, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Spain and Thailand, representing processing and related sectors will participate in the event.

Considering the huge potential in ornamental fish breeding and export, MPEDA is organising the first three-day 'Indaaquaria' from today, in which leading buyers from European Union and the US will participate.

Enumerating the 'Vision Document' of the MPEDA, Mr Kumar said in the next few years' focus would be on exploitation of resources, value addition and diversification of aquaculture species.

He said due to poor fish landing reported from east and west coasts in India, there had been a fall in exports to the tune of 19.3 per cent, 14.8 per cent and 3.49 per cent in quantity, rupee realisation and dollar realisation respectively during April-December in 2007 compared to corresponding period in 2006.

As a market promotion measure, MPEDA would be participating in International Boston Seafood Show in US from February 24 to 26 and European Seafood Exposition in Brussels from April 22 to 24.

UNI MA ROY AM VC1145