Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, Dec 12: The state government has initiated steps for enhancing seafood export to Portugal.
A delegation of the state government will visit Portugal to exploit new market linkages for seafood, tourism, textiles and handicraft products of Orissa in Portugal, it was decided at a high-level meeting chaired by Chief Secretary GC Pati in the presence of Jitendra Nath Mishra, the ambassador of India to Portugal, and fisheries and animal resource development secretary Bishnupada Sethi.
Pati advised the Sethi to come up with a detailed proposal of the proposed visit as there is also great demand for these products in other places such as the European Union and Japan.
Mishra stated that Portugal is a major market for seafood, as per capita consumption of
marine food in Portugal is the highest in the world.
Representatives of the seafood exporters association proposed separate branding of Orissa products in the country.
The ambassador said that as Orissa has the advantage of
having naturally grown seafood in Chilika lake, Orissa can claim to be a naturally grown seafood zone.
The Chief Secretary advised the fisheries department to examine technical details for the purpose of certifying Chilika product as naturally grown seafood. Pati also asked the seafood exporters association to set up one marketing promotion cell of seafood for ensuring quality of the products and establishing long-term market linkages. The directorate of fisheries will provide guidance to seafood exporters for boosting export.
At present, seafood export from Orissa amounts to Rs 1,817 crore with an annual growth rate of 30 per cent. Around 31 seafood processing units are exporting seafood products from the state of which 11 processing units have been approved by the European Union.
