The National Skill Olympiad 2025, organized by MPEDA, will be held in Chennai on July 1 as part of the Seafood Expo Bharat 2025, aiming to spotlight India’s skilled professionals in the seafood value-addition sector. Winners will receive cash prizes up to ₹1,00,000, with top-performing products showcased at the Skill Olympiad Pavilion.
Kochi : India’s growing marine exports sector is set to get a boost with the National Skill Olympiad 2025, to be held on July 1 in Chennai, organized by the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA). The event will be a part of Seafood Expo Bharat 2025, a major industry gathering focusing on seafood exports, innovation, and value addition.
The Olympiad aims to nurture skill development, expand the talent pool, and raise awareness of quality standards in seafood value-addition. Preliminary rounds were conducted in Kochi (May 29) and Visakhapatnam (June 5), with five top professionals each from the east and west coasts selected for the semi-final round on June 30.
From there, four finalists will compete in the mega finale on July 1. Cash prizes include ₹1,00,000 for first place, ₹75,000 and ₹50,000 for second and third places respectively, and a consolation prize of ₹25,000.
Over 3,000 delegates are expected to attend the Expo, which will feature 116 exhibition stalls, with representatives from seafood exporters, international buyers, state and central fisheries departments, and allied industry stakeholders. The event includes product showcases and live tasting sessions of value-added seafood at the Skill Olympiad Pavilion.
According to MPEDA Chairman D.V. Swami, the Olympiad will be held annually to strengthen India’s seafood value-addition capabilities and support the government’s Viksit Bharat 2047 and PM Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) missions. It will also recognize and uplift trained seafood workers, thereby creating new employment avenues across the sector.
India exported $7.44 billion worth of marine products in 2024–25, supported by 650 processing units with a combined capacity exceeding 35,000 metric tonnes—over 100 of which specialize in high-quality value-added seafood. Currently, 10% of India’s total seafood exports come from this segment, and the goal is to double this share by 2030.
