By EuAsiaNews,
Brussels : The European Union (EU) has emerged as the largest importer of Indian marine products accouting for 34% of the exports by value.
G. Mohan Kumar, Chairman of India’s Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) told an event at the sidelines of the Brussels seafood fair Wednesday that frozen shrimp continued to be the largest export item accounting to nearly 54% of the total value of exports.
“We are very proud of black tiger shrimp to be India’s unique shrimp,” he told a luncheon gathering of representatives of seafood companies from Europe and elswhere organised by MPEDA .
Presenting the Indian seafood scenario, he said India exported marine products valued at $1.85 billion during the year 2006-7.
MPEDA has set long term goals of achieving an export turnover of $4 billion by the year 2012 and $6 billion by 2017.
Speaking later to EuAsiaNews, Kumar said India exported over $600 million worth of marine products to EU last year.
The UK, France, Germany, Belgium , Italy are among the major EU countries for Indian seafood exports.
“Our share of exports to the EU has increased and naturally the volume has also increased,” he said.
On his part, Anwar Hashim, President of the Exporters Association of India (SEAI) told EuAsiaNews that some export problems with the EU like health issues have now been sorted out.
“We have also improved quite a lot. We are very conscious of the European control,” said Hashim who heads the Cochin-based ABAD Fisheries group.
India has 230 EU approved seafood export units.
M.K.Lokesh, deputy chief of Indian Mission in Brussels, said “this is an important event for us.”
“The EU has emerged number one market for Indian seafood,” he noted.
Ten Indian companies are among the 1,600 participating from approximately 80 countries in the 16th Annual European Seafood Exposition (ESE) from 22-24 April.
Bangladesh, Paksitan and Sri Lanka were also represented at the Brussels fair said to be the world’s biggest seafood event.
Running parallel to the ESE is Seafood Processing Europe (SPE), which provides visitors with the latest in processing and packaging technology and services.