National Workshop organised by ZTMC, CIFT

A National Workshop on “Extracting Opportunities in the Fisheries Sector” was jointly organized by the Zonal Technology Management Centre (ZTMC), ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Technology (ICAR-CIFT), Cochin, District Industries Centre (DIC), Ernakulam and Federation of Indian Export Organizations (FIEO), Ernakulam during 20-21 January, 2015 at ICAR-CIFT, Cochin. The Workshopbrought together 50 entrepreneurs from the field of fisheries, scientific community and business development officials on the same platform.The Workshop was aimed at identifying the emerging technological trends in seafood industry, creating awareness about the Business Incubation Centre at ICAR-CIFT and also meeting the challenges in international and national trade.

The Workshop was inaugurated by Shri K.S. Pradeep Kumar, General Manager,DIC. During his inaugural address, ShriPradeepurged the entrepreneurs to take up business projects in technical collaboration with ICAR-CIFT so as to garner the benefits of theInstitute, and thus fuel innovations in fisheries business sectorto bring benefits to the large section of the society. Dr.T.V.Sankar, Director-in-Charge, ICAR-CIFT presided over the inaugural meeting.Dr.Sankar briefed about the good number of entrepreneur-ready technologies available with ICAR-CIFT and the need for more intensive partnerships with the private industry.Dr.George Ninan, Principal Investigator, ZTMC delivered the welcome address and Shri K.Sajithkumar, Assistant Director, DIC proposed the vote of thanks.

            Inaugural session in progress                        Shri K.S. Pradeep Kumar delivering the inaugural
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The technical session on the first daywitnessed a lecture on 'Value addition in the field of fisheries sector' by Dr. George Ninan and a talk on 'Role of business incubators in business development' by Shri K.J. Aravind, Research Associate, ZTMC. The participants visited the Business Incubation office complex and the Pilot Plant Facility established at the ICAR-CIFT premises.On the second day,  Dr. Rejikumar, Faculty for International Trade, FIEO, gave a talk on 'Export opportunities in marine and fisheries sector', and Shri Sajithkumar of DIC talked about the 'Schemes and services of Industries Department'.During the concluding session, Dr. George Ninan expressed his pleasure in the successful culmination of the Workshop and the role played in strengthening the public private partnerships, and development of more future collaborative endeavors. The session came to end with the vote of thanks proposed by Shri Sajithkumar.