April 6, 2006

India throws its doors open to Norwegian salmon
 

Indian authorities have recently lowered duties on Norwegian salmon from around 30 percent to 10 percent.

Helga Pedersen, Norway's fisheries and coastal minister, hailed the move as a positive step towards making India a substantial long-term market for Norwegian's fisheries and aquaculture industry.

With a sizable middle class, India is an ideal market for Norwegian seafood exports, the minister said. However, she added that India's high duties have deterred Norwegian exporters from exporting to the country.

Norwegian authorities have long asked for rates to be lowered, with the Norwegian prime minister raising the issue in his two visits to India during the last 5 years.

On another level, Norwegian fishery authorities have also been holding negotiations with India's Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) to broker a deal that could see greater cooperation among the fishery industries of the two countries.

Part of the talks occurred when Norwegian authorities and Norwegian seafood industry participated in the India International Seafood Show in Kolkata in February this year.