Pakistani seafood attracted strong interest from Russian buyers at a St Petersburg exhibition, according to Seagreen Enterprises chief executive Asim Abrar.
Abrar led Pakistan’s participation in collaboration with the Pakistan Trade Mission in Russia. He described the response from buyers and visitors as highly encouraging, pointing to substantial opportunities for Pakistani seafood exports.
The exhibition appearance follows Russia’s approval earlier this year of 16 Pakistani seafood processing plants, opening another market for the industry.
Russian buyers show interest
Abrar credited the Pakistan Trade Mission, Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Marine Fisheries Department with helping facilitate access to the Russian market.
“Seagreen Enterprises’ growing interest from the Russian market represents a significant achievement,” he said.
He described the development as encouraging for Pakistan, saying it demonstrated the ability of the country’s seafood products to compete internationally.
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Separate reporting by Daily Times said Russian visitors appreciated the quality of Pakistani products. Abrar also expressed hope that Pakistani seafood would soon reach Russian supermarket shelves. The report did not announce confirmed supermarket listings or disclose sales contracts.
The ninth Global Fishery Forum and Seafood Expo Russia ran from September 16 to 18 at St Petersburg’s Expoforum convention centre. Its programme brought together discussions on fisheries, seafood distribution, technology and consumer demand.
Trade officials pursue commercial links
The St Petersburg Chamber of Commerce and Industry separately confirmed engagement with Pakistan’s trade representatives during the event.
Its external relations director, Irina Karpenko, met Shabana Mumtaz, the Pakistani embassy’s trade representative, on September 16.
Their discussions covered stronger commercial ties between Pakistani businesses and St Petersburg companies, including supplies of Pakistani fisheries products.
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The chamber said they also discussed finding Pakistani partners for local importers. Karpenko visited Seagreen Enterprises’ exhibition stand, providing another point of contact between the exporter and the city’s business community.
Seagreen’s website identifies the business as a family-owned company established in 1980 by Abrar Ahmed, with Asim Abrar joining subsequently.
The Karachi Fish Harbour-based exporter lists shrimp, squid, cuttlefish, sole and pomfret among its products. Its stated quality policy covers seafood processing, packaging, hygiene and food safety controls.
Russian approvals support export expansion
On April 17, Maritime Affairs Minister Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry announced that Russia had approved 16 Pakistani seafood processing plants.
He credited diplomatic and technical efforts with securing the registrations, which allow the approved plants to export to Russia.
The minister projected that Russian demand could initially generate about $300 million in exports. He also forecast growth in Pakistan’s annual seafood exports from around $500 million to $800 million in coming years.
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Those figures represent government projections rather than confirmed earnings from the exhibition.
Chaudhry identified warm-water species, including shrimp and ribbonfish, as potential strengths for Pakistani suppliers. He also highlighted sea, air and overland transport options, while calling for better infrastructure and policy support to expand exports.
