A “significant reduction in funds” will see the Norwegian Seafood Council (NSC) close its office in India in spring 2018 and then market directly to the country from its headquarters in Tromso, Norway, the trade body has announced.
The NSC began a targeted campaign in India in May 2016 as part of its program to develop new markets for Norwegian seafood products. But Børge Grønbech, project risk manager with the NSC, said that the cut in next year’s budgets implied significant cuts in market investments, and based on “thorough assessments and tough priorities,” the NSC had concluded that its presence and market efforts in India had to be adjusted.
Since 2016, Yogi Shergill has been the NSC’s dedicated market manager in India, tasked with strengthening the seafood trade between Norway and India. Shergill will continue to lead this work until the end of April 2018, after which it will be managed and delivered from NSC’s headquarters.
The council said that the size of the market, strong economic growth and increasing demand for seafood would make India an important market for Norwegian seafood exports in the future. Therefore, it will decide on an adjusted approach for the country that “safeguards the knowledge and network that have been developed.”
This provides a good basis for future marketing investments if the funds, market strategy, and market situation allow, it said.
