India Aims To Double Marine Exports To Rs 1 L Cr: Goyal

| Updated: 07 June, 2022 8:51 pm IST

Union minister Piyush Goyal interacted with stakeholders of rubber, marine and spice sectors in Kochi on Monday.

KOCHI (KERALA): India aims to double the exports of marine products to Rs 1 lakh crore, Union commerce minister Piyush Goyal said on Monday as he called upon fishermen, traders and exporters to help the country transform into a seafood processing hub.

“This target will be achieved through sustainable fishing, ensuring quality and variety, promotion of coastal shipping and aquaculture, and by supporting the entire fisheries ecosystem,” Goyal told media persons at the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) here.

The minister held an interaction with the Seafood Exporters Association of India (SEAI) on various issues, challenges and solutions facing the sector. He also met fishermen from Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karnataka.

Assuring fishermen to minimize the obstacles in the import of raw materials for value addition, Goyal urged exporters to “educate, assist and encourage fishermen to follow sustainable measures in fishing and also to preserve the quality of the catch so that it can fetch better prices.”

Spices exports have risen substantially since 2014.

In meeting with Spices Board & industry stakeholders, discussed ways to double exports.

GI tagged varieties have commercial potential that can be realised with newer markets opening for farmers through FTAs. pic.twitter.com/pJNWwDFWJS

— Piyush Goyal (@PiyushGoyal) June 6, 2022

Indian mission abroad have been asked to help exporters grow their trade, he informed as he exhorted all stakeholders of the sector to work towards transforming India into a seafood processing hub in the near future.

In addition, Goyal informed that negotiations to reach a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the European Union (EU) will begin in Brussels on June 17. “The effort is to provide market access and new opportunities for the country’s exporters and consequently give fishermen a better future,” he added.

Goyal also discussed various challenges and opportunities facing the rubber sector. He assured full cooperation from the ministry to the sector for its further development and urged all stakeholders to work towards making India self-sufficient in rubber.

The minister emphasised the need to ramp up the production in order to bridge the gap between domestic demand and consumption of rubber.