An Industry Interface Programme was organized by the Zonal Technology Management -Agribusiness Incubation (ZTM-ABI) Centre, ICAR-CIFT, Central Institute of Fisheries Technology on 27th March 2019, at Cochin for showcasing the innovations from eight Fisheries Research Institutions under Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). The programme was organized as part of the business promotion drive designed for the fisheries sector to promote entrepreneurs with the help of latest R&D facilities and vast knowledge available with ICAR. The event brought together innovators and entrepreneurs from the field of fisheries on a single platform. A total of 70 participants representing fisheries industry, processors, exporters, brackish water/freshwater aquaculture/farmers, ornamental fish breeders, cage culturists, startups, entrepreneurs, private investors, and Government agencies, attended the programme.
Shri Alex Ninan, President, Seafood Exporters Association of India (Kerala Region) was the Chief Guest, and Shri Abraham J. Tharakan, Chairman, M/s Amalgam Group of Companies was the Guest of Honour. Presiding over the function, Dr. Ravishankar C.N., Director, ICAR-CIFT talked about the importance of conducting Industry Interface Programmes that can establish a positive relationship between public and private organizations. Dr. Vikram Singh, Principal Scientist, IP&TM Division, ICAR, New Delhi offered the felicitations, and Dr. George Ninan, SIC, ZTM-ABI Centre, ICAR-CIFT gave the opening remarks and welcomed the gathering. The inaugural meeting also witnessed the exchange of agreements in connection with the two research project undertaken by ICAR-CIFT.
During the first technical session, the officials from Institute Technology Management Units (ITMU) showcased the technologies, strengths and business prospects of the respective ICAR Institutes participants from the private sector. Each institute presented their complete spectrum of potential technologies and explained about the technical and commercial aspects of various technologies to the entrepreneurs. The second technical session had the presentations about various schemes offered by Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME), Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) and Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation (KSIDC).