ICAR-CIFT organizes Industry Interface Programme at Kochi

An Industry Interface Programme was organized by the Zonal Technology Management -Agribusiness Incubation (ZTM-ABI) Centre, ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Technology on 27th March, 2019 at Cochin, Kerala for showcasing the innovations in fisheries which was attended by In Charge (ITMU) of eight Fisheries Research Institutions under Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) namely, ICAR-CIFE, Mumbai; ICAR-CIFA, Bhubaneswar; ICAR-CMFRI, Cochin; ICAR-NBFGR, Lucknow; ICAR-CIBA, Chennai; ICAR-CIFRI, Barrackpore, ICAR-DCFR, Bhimtal including ICAR-CIFT, Cochin.

The programmewas 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 the same platform. Around 70 participants representing fisheries industry, processors, exporters, brackishwater / freshwater aquaculture / fish farmers, ornamental fish breeders, cage culturists, startups, entrepreneurs, private investors and Govt. agencies, participated in the programme.

Shri Alex Ninan, President, Seafood Exporters Association of India (Kerala Region), the Chief Guest of the programme lauded the role of ICAR-CIFT in Indian fish export since last six decadesand sought the technological cooperation from other research organizations for holistic development of the sector. Shri Abraham J. Tharakan, Chairman, Amalgam Group of Companies was the Guest of Honour. Describing his long association with the institute, he urged the entreprenuers present there to take benefit of the commercial technologies evolved by different fisheries research institutes of ICAR.Presiding over the programme, Dr. Ravishankar C.N., Director, ICAR-CIFT emphasized on the importance of conducting Industry Interface Programme that can act as a conduit for establishing positive relationship between public and private organizations. Dr. Vikram Singh, Principal Scientist, IP&TM Division, ICAR, New Delhi in his felicitation address highlighted the importance of organising such programme at state/regional level to explore the hidden talents and encourage the budding entreprenuers to grab the opportunities for developing a start-up.Dr. George Ninan, Principal Investigator, ZTM-ABI Centre gave the opening remarks and welcomed the gathering. The inaugural meeting also witnessed the exchange of agreements in connection with the two technology transfer assignments and one contract 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. Each institute presented their complete spectrum of potential technologies and explained about the technical and commercial aspects of various technologies to the entrepreneurs.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).