The 23rd edition of the India International Seafood Show (IISS), held from 15 to 17 February 2023 at Biswa Bangla Mela Prangan, Kolkata, witnessed a number of seafood exporters, refrigerator and equipment manufacturers, and food processors from India and abroad taking part.
With a desire to be bigger and better in terms of size and participation compared to the 2020 show in Kochi, Kerala, IISS 2023 aimed to highlight India’s commitment to safe and sustainable seafood production for exports. The show provided the opportunity for the visitors to meet seafood buyers and processors across India, discover new business relationships and increase sales and exports at one of Asia’s largest seafood expositions.
The event had more than 350 stalls showcasing various pre-processing, processing, and storage technologies in the seafood industry, acting as a platform for one-on-one interaction with seafood importers and exporters. According to M Karthikeyan, director of Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA), around 5,000 delegates from India and other countries would have attended the event.
The Indian seafood sector needs to regain buoyancy in the post-pandemic phase in the face of stiff global competition and a stringent inspection regime imposed by the European Union and Japan on shrimp consignments.
Officials of MPEDA said the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) promotes fish production, helping increase the availability of marine products for exports. The production-linked incentive scheme for the food sector is expected to emphasize ‘make in India’ by enhancing the competitiveness of the seafood-processing sector.
According to a statement by MPEDA, marine product exports registered a growth of approximately 30% as compared to FY 2020-21, achieving an all-time high of US$ 7.74 billion in FY 2021-22. The target was achieved despite hindrances arising due to the lockdowns. India is the fourth largest seafood-exporting nation in the world.
