Odisha targets seafood exports worth Rs 3000 cr in FY17

The Dollar Business Bureau 

With the upcoming state-of the art cold storage facilities at the Biju Patnaik International Airport (BPIA), the Odisha government has given itself a target to export sea food worth Rs 3000 crore during FY17. The cold storage facilities at BPIA, is being set-up in partnership with the AAI, and is likely to get completed within this year. Speaking about it the Fisheries and Animal Resources Development Secretary, Bishnupada Sethi said, "Odisha has witnessed

Speaking about it the Fisheries and Animal Resources Development Secretary, Bishnupada Sethi said, "Odisha has witnessed increase in exports from 14,161 tonnes in 2007-08 to 35,630 tonnes in 2015-16. It generated foreign exchange earnings worth Rs 347.9 crore in 2007-08, while the amount was Rs 1,787.84 crore in 2015-16. This year, the target has been fixed at Rs 3,000 crore.” 

Odisha had exported seafood worth Rs 4794.72 crore in the last three years as its products were in great demand in South East Asian countries, Japan, Europe and the US. Fishery products more specifically from the Chilika lake region were in more demand in these countries. Chilika alone has produced 13,137 tonnes of crabs, prawns, fish and the delicious squid which have been exported to foreign countries. The State Govt taking note of the potential and demand that seafood from the State commanded, has decided to create and upgrade the necessary infrastructure like cargo handling at the BPIA to facilitate handling and ease of transport to other countries. 

The Odisha government too is in talks to modernise the cargo containers at Paradip port in order to facilitate the export of seafood.