Amaravati, Oct 21 – Andhra Pradesh’s Education, IT and Electronics Minister Nara Lokesh welcomed the Australian government’s decision to allow Indian prawns into its market. He shared the news on X while touring Australia ahead of the CII Partnership Summit in Visakhapatnam.
The minister said Australia had lifted a long‑standing ban on unpeeled prawns that had been stuck on the market because of a white‑spot virus scare. “It’s a big win for Indian seafood exporters,” Lokesh posted. “We’re grateful for the joint effort by our governments to make this happen.”
He added that opening new markets is key to reducing reliance on a single buyer, referring to the U.S. market where current tariffs have hit Andhra Pradesh’s aquaculture hard. The state – which accounts for over 60 % of India’s seafood exports – supplied about $7.4 billion worth of products last year.
During his trip, Lokesh met with Seafood Industry Australia leaders to discuss sustainable aquaculture and trade networking. He praised the “Great Australian Seafood” brand and noted Andhra Pradesh’s role in shaping a premium seafood market. The minister said the state would continue to support its seafood industry with the resources it needs.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has appealed to the Centre for financial relief and market diversification. He highlighted the impact of U.S. tariffs on shrimp exports, estimating over ₹25 billion in losses and the cancellation of about half of overseas orders. Naidu urged the federal government to look at GST relief, new trade deals with the EU, South Korea, Saudi Arabia and Russia, and to expand domestic demand.
Together, Andhra Pradesh officials are pushing for a broader international footprint and stronger support for the 250,000 aqua‑farm families and 3 million people tied to the sector.
Source: ianslive
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