The 23rd edition of the India International Seafood Show (IISS) will be held in Kolkata from February 15-17, next year, showcasing India's thriving seafood sector in all its glory. The event will take place at the Biswa Bangala Mela Prangan in the city.
The event will feature over 350 stalls spread across 7,000 square metres, showcasing a wide range of products based on automated and IT-aided technology, as well as energy-efficient systems for value addition. The show is being organized by the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) in collaboration with the Seafood Exporters Association of India (SEAI).
Dr. K N Raghavan, Chairman of the MPEDA, stated that the biennial (every two years) seafood event will provide an ideal platform for interaction between Indian exporters and overseas importers of India's marine products.
"It will also give manufacturers and suppliers the opportunity to showcase their products and close business deals for their processing machinery, packaging systems, processing ingredient dealers, and cold chain systems. There will also be opportunities for service providers in the logistics and certifying/testing segments,” he said in a statement released here.
The event also allows for the exploration of new areas and the presentation of various technologies and products to the global market. Another goal of the show is to highlight the country's commitment to sustainability throughout the entire value chain of seafood products, including primary production, processing, and transportation.
New processing techniques, traceability, and value addition to export products will also be discussed. According to SEAI National President Agadeesh Fofandi, the IISS has emerged as one of the world's major seafood shows.
There will also be technical sessions led by national and international experts who will brainstorm ways to boost seafood exports even further. Delegates for the technical sessions will include seafood processors, buyers, and stakeholders from other related industries from India and abroad.
Meanwhile, plans are in the works to host buyer delegations from countries interested in mutual collaborations in the fields of seafood processing and value addition. India exported 13,69,264 tonnes of marine products worth USD 7.76 billion during 2021-22, setting an all-time high in terms of value. Shrimp production surpassed one million MT.
According to the statement, with the strategy addressing capture fisheries and aquaculture, the export turnover is expected to reach USD 15 billion in the next five years. Sustainable fishing methods, value addition, and increased aquaculture production through diversification are expected to contribute to the set export target, according to the report.
