Cochin: The National Seafood Skill Olympiad reflects the Marine Products Export Development Authority’s commitment to fostering excellence across the seafood value chain, according to MPEDA Chairman Shri P. Jawahar. Speaking ahead of the event’s second edition, which runs from July 1 to 3, 2026, as part of Seafood Expo Bharat 2026, Jawahar emphasized that investing in human capital is essential for sustaining India’s leadership in the blue economy. He noted that by recognizing and promoting skilled professionals, this flagship initiative strengthens the industry’s workforce and enhances India’s position as a trusted global supplier capable of meeting the evolving demands of international markets.
Under Jawahar’s leadership, MPEDA organized an extensive nationwide capacity-building program as a precursor to the grand finale. The initiative featured 50 Seafood Value Addition Training Programmes that trained over 2,500 workers and professionals in high-demand export products like breaded squid rings, Nobashi shrimp, and marinated skewers. Following preliminary, state, and regional competitions, the top 10 finalists will now compete in the Grand Finale before an expert jury. Winners will receive certificates, medals, and cash prizes ranging from 25,000 to 1,00,000 rupees. The award-winning items will be showcased at the Skill Olympiad Pavilion, which will feature live demonstrations and tasting sessions.
The initiative aligns with India’s broader economic goals. While the country achieved record seafood exports of 8.45 billion USD in FY 2025-26, value-added products from 127 of India’s 670 approved processing units currently account for just 10 percent of that total. Jawahar’s agency is leveraging these training programs and competitions to help meet an ambitious national target: increasing the share of value-added products to 25 percent of total seafood exports by 2030.
The three-day Seafood Expo Bharat 2026 will support this vision by hosting nearly 5,000 domestic and international stakeholders, 325 exhibition stalls, and parallel technical sessions on sustainability and innovation. Alongside the Skill Olympiad, the expo will feature a Seafood Culinary Olympiad, providing a comprehensive platform to expand business opportunities and forge strategic partnerships across the global seafood value chain.