Seychelles seafood in China |10 November 2006

The team comprised representatives from the Seychelles Fishing Authority (SFA) and the private sector, namely Oceana Fisheries, Marine Investment Resources Seychelles Ltd, Marine Products Pty. Ltd, and the Seychelles Fishing Boat Owners Association.

This Seafood fair was the 11th of its kind to be held in the city of Qingdao, a key economic centre in the east of China, one of her main ports for foreign trade as well as serving as an important base for ocean research in China.

Seychelles was participating for the first time, with the aim of getting exposure for local seafood products but also to gauge market interest for other ventures that would help stimulate economic development, e.g  investment in processing and value-addition, in line with Government’s policy to attract investment whilst diversifying market products and exports, as laid out in the Integrated Fisheries 5-year Development  Plan launched by President James Michel earlier this year.

Seychelles fisheries products such as frozen, smoked and dried seafood were exhibited at the three-day Fair.  They included snapper, grouper, vara vara, jackfish (whole and filleted) shark steak, crabs, tuna and swordfish loins, smoked black marlin and dried shark fins, to name a few.
 
There were over 1200 booths displaying seafood products from over 40 countries around the world.
 
According to the SFA, the Seychelles booth attracted a large number of visitors during the 3-day expo, and the delegation present there expressed their satisfaction in the interest generated by the range of products on display at their stall. 

Members of the private sector also had the opportunity to familiarise themselves with processing equipment and acquire new ideas in fish value-addition. The transformation of discarded resources such as shark meat, currently with a limited market, into useful products would be a concrete way in which the private sector could assist Government in the implementation of the newly drawn up National Plan of Action (NPOA) for sharks and contribute to wealth creation.

The Seychelles delegation returned very optimistic about future trade. They have thanked the Government of the Republic of China for supporting three of the airfares, and to the SFA who provided both financial and logistical support on site, in transportation of products etc.