First Aqua Technology Park at Kerala

Kerala, known for its marine products, is setting up the country's first Aqua Technology Park (ATP) at Aluva near Kochi as part of its efforts to promote ornamental fish production and export. The state government has formed a company - Kerala Aqua Ventures International Ltd (KAVIL) - with public-private participation for establishing the park, which would provide the stake holders a unique opportunity for investment and trade opportunities in the sector.
Prof B Madhusoodhan Kurup, Advisor to the Kerala Fisheries Minister,told media persons at Kochi on Wednesday. Stating that the state government has recently taken several initiatives for triggering ornamental fish production and export, he said formation of ATP was part of the efforts. Kerala, renowned for its traditional products and exports including coffee and tea, had almost become stagnant in the aqua sector. The objective of the park was to provide operators with a ready-to-use sites for establishing marketing and sales (domestic and international) of ornamental fish and satellite farms for production, Kurup said.
It was also aimed at securing at least 10 per cent of the global trade of ornamental fish export by 2015, which was currently estimated at 0.5 per cent, he said. He said the project was expected to generate employment opportunity to over 10,000 people and fetch foreign exchange to the tune of Rs 300 crore.