A Study On Mapping the Stakeholders and Measuring Linkages of the Seafood Export MSME Cluster

Abstract

The Indian Sea food export industry is huge employment - oriented industry providing a lot of economic development. The seafood industry falls under the category of MSME. The major stakeholders of this cluster are the exporters, the raw material suppliers, the foreign buyers, the supporting institutions and the business development services. There are various issues that the industry has been facing like market issues, policy issues, production issues and trade issues. The aim of this study is to analyse the relationships between the various stakeholders in the cluster and measure their linkages. The factors were put through various statistical tests to judge their relationship and significance as casual factors with the 5 stakeholders of the cluster. Various factors influence the relationships among the stakeholders in this seafood cluster. These parameters were statistically as well as strategically analyzed and it has shown the emergence of new players. This has led to new relationships among various entities within a stakeholder as well as with other stakeholders. This industry needs to meet the global standards as other countries are far more advanced in their production technologies and enhanced labour skills. So the 5 major members of the cluster need to have a stronger and in - depth networking associations to ensure the sustainability of the industry and to ensure a barrier free trade at international standards.