India aims to expand seafood exports to $12 billion in two years

By Manoj KumarNEW DELHI (Reuters) – India is aiming to expand its seafood exports to around $12 billion in the next two years from $8 billion currently, mainly by focusing on high-end markets including the United States and Europe, two government officials said on Wednesday. India has emerged as the biggest supplier of seafood, particularly frozen shrimps, to the United States, with exports doubling over eight years to $2.6 billion in 2022/23, one of the officials at the Commerce Ministry told a small group of reporters. “The government intends to focus on value addition and supply to high-end markets while creating awareness about good labour and environment practices among exporters,” the officials said. Shrimp farming has emerged as a big opportunity for nearly 200,000 workers, mainly women in the Southern states of Andhra Pradesh, the second official said, noting, however, that global demand could remain weak this fiscal year. Both officials declined to be named as they ...