India's seafood exports to grow despite meltdown, say officials

Agencies
Brussels, May 2:
India's multi-billion dollar marine products industry has remained largely unaffected by the global economic meltdown, Indian officials and exporters have said. "There was a lot of stress but because of our good quality and all other things...we could survive the meltdown. Even after the meltdown we could export more," Kuruvilla Thomas of the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) of India told EuAsiaNews. Mr. Thomas was in Brussels for the 17th European Seafood Exposition. Seven hundred exhibitors from 75 countries participated in the three-day annual event that ended here Thursday. Twenty Indian companies participated in the event. Commenting on this year's prospects for Indian seafood exports, he said: "We came here with a depressed note but since being here the last couple of days we are very hopeful.""There are solid inquiries, good orders and good expectations of the exporters. I think 2009-10 would see 10-15 percent increase in exports. This is all positive," he added. Export of marine products from India was valued at a record $1.9 billion during 2007-08.Anwar Hashim, president of the Seafood Exporters Association of India, said: "The situation is much better than we expected." "The industry has handled the situation very well. Prices have come back to the normal level.. We would be doing better than last year," Mr. Hashim was quoted as saying.