Kerala woos EU as Trump tariffs hit marine exports

The southern Indian state of Kerala, with a 590-km coastline along the Arabian Sea, is set to host a two-day conclave in partnership with the European Union next month to capitalise on its potential as a global blue economy hub.

- Ashraf Padanna

Officials said the Sept. 18-19 Blue Tides Two Shores, One Vision conclave will take place at the seaside getaway of Kovalam and will encompass a wide array of themes and areas for strategic collaboration.

Kerala is India’s third-largest seafood exporting state in terms of quantity and second in terms of the value of exports. Last year, the state exported 197,000 tonnes of seafood worth Rs 72.32 billion.

The United States is the largest importer of seafood from Kerala (22.34 per cent), followed by the EU (21.70 per cent) and Southeast Asian countries (19.75 per cent).