The Government of India has announced an ambitious initiative to establish the country’s first Marine Export Zones (MEZs) under the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) framework.
The initiative marks a significant step towards expanding seafood exports and strengthening the blue economy.
The policy is expected to create a comprehensive ecosystem for marine products by integrating production, processing, cold chain logistics, exports, and research within dedicated coastal clusters.
The proposed Marine Export Zones are designed to improve India’s competitiveness in global seafood markets by providing modern infrastructure, streamlined regulatory procedures, and improved connectivity between fishing harbours, processing facilities, and export terminals.
Officials believe the initiative will help coastal states attract fresh domestic and international investments while creating thousands of employment opportunities in fisheries, aquaculture, food processing, logistics, and related industries.
India has emerged as one of the world’s leading seafood exporters over the past decade, with shrimp accounting for a significant share of overseas shipments. However, industry experts have long argued that fragmented infrastructure, inconsistent cold-chain facilities, and lengthy approval processes have limited the sector’s full potential.
The new policy aims to address these challenges by developing integrated export hubs equipped with processing units, quality-testing laboratories, packaging centres, warehousing facilities, and efficient transport links.
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