The Indian government is set to establish its first dedicated marine export zones (MEZs) as special economic zones (SEZs) to strengthen the country’s seafood exports ecosystem, with investments of around $1 billion in integrated export infrastructure.

The five MEZs, to be developed across coastal Tamil Nadu as a pilot initiative, will serve as integrated clusters comprising feed mills, hatcheries, aquaculture farms, seafood processing units, cold storage facilities, packaging centres, export logistics infrastructure, and marine ancillary MSMEs.

The project is being spearheaded by the Madras Export Processing Zone (MEPZ) under the Union ministry of commerce and industry. The proposed MEZs are expected to have an annual export potential of about Rs 32,000 crore and generate employment for 1.4 lakh to 1.8 lakh people, according to officials.

About 2,500 acres of salt-pan land in Tiruvallur, Villupuram, Thanjavur, Pudukkottai, and Ramanathapuram districts have been identified for the project. The land is currently owned by the Salt Commissioner’s Organisation (SCO) under the department for promotion of industry and internal trade (DPIIT).