India aims to double the marine product exports to Rs. One lakh crore from the present above Rs. 50,000 crore within the next five years, Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution and Textiles, Shri Piyush Goyal said in Kochi.
“This target will be achieved through sustainable fishing, ensuring quality and variety, promotion of coastal shipping and aquaculture, and by supporting the entire fisheries ecosystem,’ said Shri Goyal, addressing media persons at the Marine Products Export Development Authority in Kochi. Shri K.N. Raghavan, Chairman, MPEDA, presented a road map to achieve the export turnover of Rs 1 lakh crore.
Shri Goyal said that the Free Trade Agreements have been finalized with UAE and Australia, while negotiations are in progress for such an agreement with UK and Canada. The Minister said negotiations to reach an FTA with the EU will begin in Brussels on the 17th of this month. He said the effort was to provide market access and new opportunities for the country’s exporters and consequently give fishermen a better future. The Minister also ruled out the possibility of shifting the MPEDA office from Kochi.
