Blitz Bureau
NEW DELHI: As a result of various efforts made by the Government, India’s seafood exports have increased from Rs 46,662.85 crore in 2019-20 to Rs 61,043.68 crore in 2023-24, registering a growth of 30.81 per cent, the Parliament was informed. Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jitin Prasada furnished figures in the Rajya Sabha to show that the total production and export of marine products in the country has been increasing steadily over the last five years.
The Government regularly monitors and reviews export performance, including that of marine products, along with export promotion bodies and the Indian missions abroad with the objective of enhancing exports vis-a-vis the previous year. Internal targets are used for monitoring purposes only, and have been fixed at $7.86 billion for 2024-25, he added.
Prasada also said that the Government through the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA), a statutory organisation under the administrative control of the Department of Commerce, provides assistance for upgrading infrastructure facilities for value addition, establishing testing laboratories, participating in international trade fairs, and providing technical assistance for aquaculture production meant for exports. The reduction in import duties on various inputs used for the manufacture of prawn and shrimp feed and fish feed announced in Budget 2024-25 will make Indian seafood-based value-added products more competitive in international markets and help in the increase of exports, he added.
