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High-level Indian delegation led by Dr Likhi partners with Iceland for Sustainable Blue Growth
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Monday, 15 September, 2025, 08 : 00 AM [IST]
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Our Bureau, New Delhi
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An official secretary-level delegation led by Dr Abhilaksh Likhi, secretary, Department of Fisheries under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying (MoFAH&D), Government of India, undertook a three-day visit to Reykjavík, Iceland, from September 10 to 12, 2025. The visit aimed to strengthen bilateral cooperation between India and Iceland in the fisheries and aquaculture sectors through strategic partnerships, investment promotion, and innovation exchange.
On September 11, Dr Likhi held a high-level meeting with senior representatives of the Iceland Ocean Cluster (IOC) in Reykjavík, where discussions focused on collaboration in developing fisheries and aquaculture clusters in India, particularly through zero-waste interventions. The deliberations underscored the potential for leveraging Iceland’s technological leadership in sustainable marine practices alongside India’s expansive production capabilities. Both sides explored investment opportunities for the Icelandic seafood processing industry in India, along with ways to deepen business-to-business (B2B) linkages. Emphasis was placed on innovation-driven cooperation in fish processing, value addition, traceability, and certification to enhance sustainability and competitiveness in the sector.
Senior officials from the National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB) presented India’s vision for fisheries and aquaculture cluster development, highlighting opportunities in investment, innovation, and international collaboration. Icelandic companies, including BRIM and Hampiðjan, along with the Iceland Ocean Cluster, shared insights into Iceland’s pioneering zero-waste models and cutting-edge processing technologies. The meeting also saw participation of R Ravindra, ambassador of India to Iceland, embassy of India, Reykjavik along with other senior officials from the embassy of India in Reykjavík while prominent Icelandic participants included Thor Sigfusson, founder and chairman of the Iceland Ocean Cluster, and Bala Kamallakharan, founder of Startup Iceland. Dr Likhi also visited MATIS, a leading Icelandic food and biotech R&D company, where he was briefed on their work in food safety, biotechnology, and sustainable marine resource utilisation. The visit opened new avenues for collaboration in research and technology transfer to bolster India’s fisheries value chain.
On September 10, the Indian delegation visited the Icelandic Fishing Expo 2025 at Laugardalshöll, Reykjavík, where Dr Likhi met with Hanna Katrín Friðriksson, minister of Industries, Iceland. The two sides discussed developments in the fisheries and aquaculture sectors and explored opportunities for strengthening institutional and commercial ties. The Indian delegation also interacted with leading Icelandic fishing associations, agencies, and entrepreneurs to learn about innovative technologies and best practices in sustainable fishing.
In a separate thematic discussion, both sides identified several key areas for future cooperation that included the establishment of fisheries and aquaculture clusters with zero-waste interventions, and the deployment of deep-sea fishing vessels equipped with on board processing facilities, trans-shipment capabilities, value addition mechanisms, and robust traceability and certification systems. Emphasis was also laid on training and capacity building in deep-sea fishing technologies, alongside the adoption of advanced vessel monitoring and surveillance (VMS) systems to enhance regulatory oversight and resource management.
Additionally, both sides explored collaboration in promoting trout farming, health management, and marketing in India’s hilly states, as well as in developing specialised fishing technologies for tuna and tuna-like species in the Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep Islands. The visit marks a promising chapter in Indo-Icelandic cooperation and is expected to catalyse joint research, industrial partnerships, and innovation-led growth in the fisheries and aquaculture sectors.
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