In a unique initiative, the Modi government is hosting a meeting here on Wednesday with envoys of over 80 countries to strengthen India’s seafood exports.
The Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying is organising the “Round Table conference with ambassadors and high commissioners on Seafood export promotions” aimed at strengthening bilateral trade and international Market Linkage, an official press note said on Tuesday.
The event will be chaired by Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh and attended by other ministers and senior officials in the government.
India is the world’s second-largest aquaculture producer and one of the leading global producers of fish and aquatic foods. Over the years, the sector has transformed from a predominantly subsistence activity into a commercially robust, export-oriented ecosystem spanning farming, feed, processing, cold chains, logistics, and value addition while continuing to support millions of small, marginal and artisanal fishers and farmers.
Supported by targeted schemes and well‑designed policies, India today ranks as the sixth-largest exporter of fish and fishery products. In 2024–25, seafood exports reached 16.98 lakh metric tonnes, valued at Rs 62,408 crore (USD 7.45 billion), contributing nearly 18 per cent to India’s total agricultural exports.
The Government of India is convening this Round Table Conference with participation from Ambassadors and High Commissioners from over 80 partner countries across Asia, Africa, Europe, North America, Oceania, and Latin America & the Caribbean.
The Conference serves as a key diplomatic and technical platform to enable structured dialogue on seafood trade, market access, regulatory cooperation, and emerging opportunities for deepening bilateral and multilateral partnerships.
The deliberations will focus on promoting sustainable, traceable and value-added seafood trade while identifying avenues for investment, joint ventures, technology transfer, and capacity building. Discussions will also focus on strengthening the resilience of seafood value chains to climate and market risks.