Vietnam and India expand fisheries cooperation to strengthen global seafood supply chains

Vietnam and India are deepening cooperation in the fisheries sector as both countries seek to expand trade, investment, and supply chain integration within the global seafood industry amid ongoing market restructuring, as reported by VNA, a partner of TV BRICS.

The development follows the recent upgrade of bilateral relations to an Enhanced Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, which has created new momentum for economic collaboration and sector-specific engagement. Officials from both sides have highlighted fisheries as a key area of complementarity, supported by Vietnam’s processing capacity and India’s strong aquaculture and raw material base.

According to Vietnamese trade representatives, the strengthened partnership is expected to open broader opportunities for businesses across the fisheries value chain. The two countries have also reaffirmed their ambition to raise bilateral trade turnover to US$25 billion by 2030, with seafood identified as a priority growth sector.

India is currently one of the world’s fastest-growing markets for fishery products, supported by a population exceeding 1.4 billion and expanding domestic consumption. Its seafood processing industry is estimated to have reached around US$12 billion in 2024 and is projected to surpass US$20 billion in the coming years, driven by export demand, infrastructure modernisation, and improvements in cold chain logistics and traceability systems.

Vietnam’s fisheries sector continues to show steady recovery and growth in 2026, with export earnings exceeding US$3.6 billion in the first four months of the year.

Experts from both sides emphasise that cooperation should focus on building more transparent, efficient, and sustainable seafood supply chains. Key areas identified include improving quality control standards, enhancing antibiotic monitoring, and expanding electronic certification systems for international markets.

Officials and industry leaders from Vietnam and India have encouraged a shift away from competition towards a “win-win” cooperation model, particularly in high-value processing, sustainability standards, and export market development.