Three Madagascar-based seafood companies exhibited at the world’s largest seafood expo, Seafood Expo Global, for the first time in 2019.
Representatives of Manda S.A., Societie Matoe et Fils, and Ahmed Abdallah said they had a “very busy” time at the event, which took place in Brussels, Belgium from 7 to 9 May. The companies exhibited jointly as part of a group organized by the government of Madagascar and by the South West Indian Ocean Fisheries Governance and Shared Growth Project, or SWIOfish.
Raherimanana Bakoly, the general administrator of Manda S.A. said her country’s seafood industry was still in its infancy, and was at the show to seek both buyers and investors to help it grow.
“Our industry is small and pure. It is 100 percent clean – there is no pollution in the water or chemicals or glazing used in the processing,” Bakoly told SeafoodSource. “We keep the quality of the environment and of the product.”
Bakoly said her country has an expansive range of healthy seafood stocks, but is best known for its humphead snapper (Lutjanus sanguineus), octopus, and langoustine.
She said the country is in need of investment in the fisheries arena.
“Anyone who is interested in investing is welcome. We have good relations with the government and as a joint venture partner, we can make sure they are looked after,” she said. “We give support to investors and the product we have is very good, but we need knowledge and experience in exporting resources.”
Bakoly said while at the expo, a company from Myanmar engaged in discussions around its hope to open an aquaculture operation farming giant mud crab (Sylla serrata).
“Thanks to the expo, we have this opportunity,” she said.
Companies from the United States, the Philippines, and South Korea had also expressed interest in doing business in Madagascar while at the expo, Bakoly said.
“This is very good, because we work with thousands of traditional fishermen, and our interest in growing the seafood industry is not only for us as a business but also for the whole country, as it will help thousands of families,” she said.
