Kolkata to play host to 23rd edition of India International Seafood Show

Visakhapatnam Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) in association with the Seafood Exporters' Association of India (SEAI) will hold the 23rd edition of India International Seafood Show (IISS) in Kolkata, the City of Joy from February 15 to 7 next year.Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) in association with the Seafood Exporters' Association of India (SEAI) will hold the 23rd edition of India International Seafood Show (IISS) in Kolkata, the City of Joy from February 15 to 7 next year.

During 2021-22, India exported 13,69,264 tonnes of marine products worth US$ 7.76 billion, registering an all-time high export by value, while production of shrimp crossed one million MT. With a multipronged strategy, addressing capture fisheries and aquaculture, the export turnover is likely to achieve US$ 15 billion in next five years. Sustainable fishing methods, value addition and increased aquaculture production through diversification are expected to support the ambitious target set for exports.

MPEDA Chairman Dr K.N. Raghavan announced on Friday that the biennial showpiece event in the seafood sector, the biggest in the industry aimed at showcasing the export potential of India, will be organised at the sprawling Biswa Bangala Mela Prangan in Kolkata. It will provide an ideal platform for interaction between Indian exporters and overseas importers of the country's marine products.

"It will also provide an opportunity to manufacturers and suppliers to display their products and clinch business deals for their processing machinery, packaging systems, processing ingredient dealers and cold chain systems. In addition, there will be an opening for service providers like the logistics and certifying/testing segments," he informed in a release.

The event also provides a huge scope for tapping new avenues and introducing various technologies and products to the global market. Another objective is to highlight the country's commitment towards sustainability in the entire value chain of seafood products such as primary production, processing and transportation. It will also deliberate on new techniques in processing and traceability and value addition to products for export.

SEAI national president Jagadeesh Fofandi said the IISS has emerged as one of the major seafood shows globally. "IISS 2023 will highlight the technological advances and sustainable practices followed in the seafood processing sector in the country. Indian seafood processors have made it big in the sustainable league with the cooperation from the fishing and farming sectors. In addition, the processing industry is always looking to upgrade its technological backup for value addition," he added.

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. There will also be technical sessions by national and international experts who will brainstorm on chalking out measures that will give a further impetus to seafood exports from the country.

The delegates will include seafood processors, buyers and stakeholders from other related sectors representing firms from India and aboard. It is also planned to have buyer delegations from countries focused on mutual tie-ups in the area of seafood processing and value addition.

Registration for the IISS 2023 can be done on the website www.indianseafoodexpo.com, which now open for online registration of stalls and delegates.