Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences, Dr Jitendra Singh, on Saturday said the Andaman and Nicobar Islands are being developed as a major hub of India’s Blue Economy, with a focus on harnessing marine resources to drive economic growth, employment and environmental sustainability.
The Minister made the remarks during his visit to the Atal Centre for Ocean Science and Technology for Islands (ACOSTI) in Sri Vijaya Puram (Port Blair), where he launched and reviewed a series of marine technology initiatives aimed at strengthening livelihoods and boosting the Blue Economy in the island territory.
Addressing scientists, officials and local stakeholders, Singh said India’s future economic value addition will increasingly come from underexplored marine resources as the country advances towards becoming one of the world’s leading economies. He underlined that the government’s emphasis on the Blue Economy reflects Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of inclusive development, ensuring that island territories and coastal regions progress alongside the mainland.
The programme, held at ACOSTI’s campus at Dollygunj, was attended by Member of Parliament from Andaman and Nicobar Islands Bishnu Pada Ray, Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences Dr M. Ravichandran, senior officials of the Andaman and Nicobar Administration, scientists from the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) and representatives of local departments and self-help groups.
Highlighting parliamentary support for island development, Singh praised the consistent representation of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in Parliament, saying sustained advocacy has helped bring national attention and resources to the region. He noted that since 2014, the Prime Minister has accorded the highest priority to the North Eastern region and island territories, a shift reflected in enhanced scientific, administrative and ministerial engagement.
Referring to the Deep Ocean Mission, the Minister said the PM Modi’s announcements of the mission from the Red Fort on multiple occasions underscore the national priority accorded to marine resources. He said the Blue Economy would play a crucial role in sustaining India’s growth as conventional resources decline, contributing to employment generation, exports, environmental protection and economic resilience.
During the visit, Singh reviewed and launched several pilot initiatives, including open sea cage culture of marine fish and large-scale seaweed cultivation. He said the transfer of technology to local stakeholders demonstrates a “whole-of-government, whole-of-society” approach to development, adding that the unique marine species and coastal conditions of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands make them ideally suited for such projects.
The Minister also emphasised the integration of ocean sciences with biotechnology, noting that India is among the few countries with a dedicated biotechnology policy, BioE3 (Biotechnology for Economy, Environment and Employment). He said marine bio-resources offer potential for biodegradable alternatives to plastics, new medicinal compounds and high-value bio-products, simultaneously supporting employment, environmental protection and the bioeconomy.
Singh highlighted emerging areas such as alternative marine-based nutrition, non-animal food products, waste-to-wealth technologies and export-oriented marine produce, pointing to growing international demand, particularly in Europe. He stressed the need to enhance the participation of self-help groups and women so that these initiatives supplement household incomes and advance the “Vocal for Local” and “Local for Global” vision.
Concluding his visit, Singh expressed appreciation for the commitment of scientists and local stakeholders, and said that with greater institutional collaboration, including potential involvement of CSIR and biotechnology research centres, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands can become a key driver of India’s Blue Economy. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to sustained engagement with the region and expressed confidence that these efforts would yield long-term scientific, environmental and socio-economic benefits for the islands.
