Sri Vijaya Puram | February 24, 2026
A two-day National Level Reverse Buyer–Seller Meet & Expo aimed at strengthening and enhancing the export value chain of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands commenced on 23rd February at Megapode Resort, Haddo.
The meet is being organized by the Departments of Agriculture, Industries and Fisheries of the A&N Administration in association with the Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC), Kolkata, with support from APEDA, MPEDA, the Coconut Development Board, NFDB and RAMP. The initiative seeks to connect local producers, exporters and entrepreneurs with national buyers and institutional stakeholders to promote export-oriented growth across agriculture, fisheries and industrial sectors.
The event was inaugurated by the Chief Secretary, A&N Administration, Dr. Chandra Bhushan Kumar, IAS, in the presence of the Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Dr. Sachin Shinde, IAS; Deputy Commissioner, South Andaman, Ms. Purva Garg, IAS; Secretary (Fisheries, Industries & Agriculture), Ms. Pallavi Sarkar, IAS; Senior Director, ICC, Ms. Madhuparna Bhowmick; Director of Fisheries, Ms. Jagtap Kalyani Rajendra; Director, Art & Culture, Ms. Priyanka Kumari, and other senior officials.
In his inaugural address, the Chief Secretary welcomed buyers from the mainland and recalled the success of the Fisheries Investors Meet held in 2024, which significantly contributed to harnessing the marine potential of the Islands and led to their recognition as a ‘Tuna Hub’. He expressed confidence that the present meet would open new export avenues, facilitate structured B2B meetings and enable direct buyer–seller engagement through live product displays.
Reiterating the Administration’s commitment to simplifying the export chain, Dr. Kumar emphasized policy support, infrastructure development and enhanced inter-departmental coordination. He highlighted the ‘SPICE Pravah’ initiative launched on July 25, which targets the development of 10 lakh plantations of five major spices—true cinnamon, black pepper, nutmeg, bay leaf and cloves—over the next five years. The initiative is expected to increase production capacity, improve farmers’ incomes and position the Islands as a premium spice destination in national and international markets.
The Chief Secretary also spoke about the branding initiative “Dweep Sugandh” aimed at promoting premium island products such as Teressa goat milk soap, high-quality spices and virgin coconut oil. The initiative seeks to create a distinct identity for island products, enhance value addition and ensure better price realization while promoting sustainable production practices.
Highlighting the fisheries sector, he referred to the vast marine resources of the Islands and the rising global demand for tuna and tuna-like species. Following the release of EEZ guidelines, three access passes have been issued for deep-sea fishing operations, marking a key step toward harnessing deep-sea resources. The move is expected to boost marine exports, attract investment in modern fishing infrastructure and generate employment.
Addressing the gathering, Secretary (Fisheries, Industries & Agriculture) Ms. Pallavi Sarkar said the meet serves as a premier platform connecting FPOs, SHGs, MSMEs, startups, cooperatives, agro-entrepreneurs, marine firms and tribal enterprises of the Islands with national buyers and exporters. She outlined various developmental initiatives undertaken by the Administration under Government of India schemes to strengthen these sectors.
The inaugural session concluded with a vote of thanks by Director of Fisheries, Ms. Jagtap Kalyani Rajendra.
The event featured sectoral presentations by the Joint Director of Fisheries, Joint Director of Agriculture and Deputy Director of Industries, who elaborated on policy frameworks, production capacity, investment opportunities and export facilitation measures. Technical sessions by MPEDA (Cochin), APEDA (Kolkata) and the Coconut Development Board provided clarity on regulatory processes, incentives and support mechanisms.
A dedicated product exhibition has been set up alongside the meet, showcasing a wide array of island products, including chilled marine fish, coconut and value-added coconut products, spices such as true cinnamon, nutmeg, bay leaf and black pepper, tropical cut flowers, multifloral honey and other value-added goods. During the post-lunch session, around 30 mainland buyers interacted with 49 sellers from the Islands in structured B2B meetings.
The meet witnessed active participation from farmers, exporters and entrepreneurs from different islands. Live displays of marine products such as groupers, snappers, lobsters, blood clams and mud crabs, along with floriculture products, virgin coconut oil and desiccated coconut, provided buyers with first-hand exposure to the quality and diversity of island produce.
