Aroor's new status to bolster Kerala's marine exports

The declaration of Aroor "" a small town in Kerala's Alleppy district "" as a town of export excellence in the recently announced Foreign Trade Policy, will give a fillip to the marine products export industry in the state.

Aroor is the first town to get this status in the marine products sector in India. A bunch of projects, which will make a paradigm shift in the infrastructure facility of this area, will be implemented because of this decision by the Union government.

Incidentally, Aroor contributes 8 per cent of the total marine exports from India. Aroor, which comprises four panchayats "" Aroor, Kodamthuruth, Ezhupunna and Kuthiyathoda "" is spread across 10 kilometres.

At present, 45 marine products' processing factories are operational in this area of which 27 factories have already got the approval from the European Union. The total exports from this area is to the tune of Rs 450 crore a year.

The declaration will help these projects as Rs 50 crore will be allocated by the central government for the infrastructure development of the area. Sea Food Exporters Association of India (SEAI) sources told Business Standard that the main thrust will be to ensure the supply of quality electricity and water.

"The association is now in the process of constructing an electricity sub-station at Aroor exclusively for the export units. Negotiations with the Electricity Board are in full swing. The sub-station project is estimated to cost around Rs 8 crore," Sandu Joseph, secretary of SEAI, told Business Standard.

"With the Rs 50-crore assistance from the Centre, the area could be developed as a marine products' export hub of the country in the near future. Shortage of quality water and electricity are the main problems for the export units of the area and the industry is hopeful that the sea food industry of the state will have an edge in the market through the declaration," Sandu said.

A full-fledged testing laboratory of International standard was started one year back at Aroor which is of great help to the export industry as quality is the most important factor in marine products export front, he said.