Marine Park Near Kochi To Breed International Standard Shrimps

In a bid to revive shrimp exports to the European Union (EU), Kerala State Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (Kinfra), Marine Products and Export Development Agency (MPEDA) and exporters are setting up a state-of-the-art marine park near Kochi, which is expected to be commissioned by January 2002.

The EU banned shrimp exports from Kerala due to poor pre-processing and unhygienic methods but once the marine park comes up, exports to the EU can be revived, Kinfra sources told Business Standard.

"The EU ban had prompted Kinfra and exporters to think simultaneously about setting up such a joint venture. Depending on the success, the concept would be replicated elsewhere in the state," the sources said, adding it is a 76:24 joint venture between 10 exporters and the corporation at an estimated cost of Rs 10 crore.

 

Kinfra and MPEDA had floated a separate company to invest in 26 per cent equity of the park, while the balance 74 per cent equity would be pumped in by private exporters.

Of the total cost of Rs 10 crore, private exporters had pumped in Rs 2 crore and the rest of the amount came as soft loans and grants from the government through Kinfra.

"We are trying to make the park operational by January 2002. Once the park is commissioned, shrimp exports will increase," the sources said, declining, however, to give any figures.

India is a major exporter of shrimps to Japan, US and the European Union. Exports, however, suffered after developed nations banned entry of infected and unprocessed shrimps produced mostly by the unorganised sector.

The individual units would have their own packaging centres and the new company formed would ensure that the pre-processing is according to the international standards, Kinfra sources said.

The park provides deep freezing facilities and other vital infrastructure needed for pre-processing shrimps according to the international standards apart from providing a Common Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP).

Kinfra has so far invested Rs 80 crore for setting up as many as 15 industrial parks, ranging from food, apparel, biotechnology and information technology parks in the state.

The initiatives in setting up parks to deal with specific items comes after the state decided to increase its share of exports.

EU-India trade rose 26 per cent last year to 25.6 billion euro last year as against 20.3 billion euro in 1999.

EU's major items of imports from India comprised textiles and clothing (33.4 per cent), gems and jewellery (11.7 per cent), leather and leather goods (11.2 per cent), agriculture products (10.2 per cent), engineering goods (10 per cent) and chemicals and allied products (seven per cent).