India plans to double marine product exports to ₹ 1 lakh crore from the current Rs 50,000 crore within the next five years, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal said on Monday.
Addressing media persons in Kochi, he said that the target will be achieved through sustainable fishing, promotion of coastal shipping and aquaculture.
Mr Goyal said that Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) have been inked with countries like UAE and Australia, while talks are on with UK and Canada for similar agreements.
The minister said negotiations to reach an FTA with the European Union will begin in Brussels later this month.
Mr Goyal said the effort was to provide market access and new opportunities for the country’s exporters and consequently give fishermen a better future.
Earlier, he had an interaction with Seafood Exporters Association of India (SEAI) and also met with fishermen from Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karnataka. (NDTV)
