To explore and take advantage of the large market of marine food products in Portugal, Chief Secretary GC Pati will lead a business delegation to Portugal in March next, which will be facilitated by the Indian Embassy there.
Ambassador of India to Portugal Jitendra Nath Misra on Thursday in a meeting with the Chief Secretary, discussed the prospects of export of marine food products of Odisha to Portugal and extended an invitation, which was accepted by the State Government. Misha pointed out that Portugal’s per capita consumption of seafood is the highest in the world.
He also stressed on the comparative advantage of the availability of naturally grown products in the Chilika lake, which should be marketed properly in Portugal provided proper certification is followed. The delegation to Portugal will comprise seafood exporters, representatives of the tourism, textile, handloom and handicrafts and food processing sectors. Fisheries and Animal Resources Development Department Commissioner-cum-Secretary Bishupada Sethi was asked to coordinate the visit.
The meeting was also attended by Odisha Seafood Exporters’ Association president Gorachand Mohanty and vice-president EK Ramesh. Mohanty explained the current picture of seafood exports from Odisha, which amount to Rs1,817 crore with an annual growth rate of 30 per cent.
There are 31 seafood exporters operating from the State with only 11 processing units approved by the European Union. A mere eight of these factories have IQF (Individually Quick Freezing) facilities for producing IQF products which are mostly in demand in Europe.
During 2013-14, India’s total export of marine and seafood products was valued at Rs30,213.26 crore, out of which 22 per cent was sent to the European Union. Odisha’s exports to the European Union is to the tune of Rs250 crore. The Chief Secretary stressed on a proper certification of the products which are produced without any antibiotic and are also naturally grown in the Chilika waters.
Keeping in view the prospects of high export, it was decided that a Market Promotion Cell to help the exporters with the Government support would be opened as per a proposal to be submitted by the Odisha Seafood Exporters’ Association for one year.