Deadly floods in the Chennai area have forced the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) to postpone the 20th India International Seafood Show, which was scheduled to take place from January 22-24 at the Chennai Trade Centre.
This comes at a time when India has made huge strides in the export of both farm raised and wild-caught fishery products, which in 2014-15 reached an all-time high, reported the Hindu Business Line on December 9. The biennial fair, organized by MPEDA in collaboration with the Seafood Exporters’ Association of India, provides a forum for seafood processors, exporters, importers, shrimp and fish farmers, processing equipment manufacturers and allied industries to meet in one venue.
“Sources pointed out that because of the floods, a crucial meeting of the organizing committee, scheduled for December 2, could not be held,” reported the Hindu Business Line. “However, procedural delays and bureaucratic hurdles also contributed to the abandonment of the Chennai fair.”
The heaviest rainfall in more than 100 years, which began inundating the nation’s southern state of Tamil Nadu when the Monsoon season began, has resulted in at least 269 deaths since October 26, according to CNN.
While new dates for the show have not yet been announced, it will likely be held at Visakhapatnam sometime in the middle of next year.
