Sri Vijaya Puram, Jan 18: Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology, Earth Sciences, and MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh on 17th Jan said that Andaman & Nicobar Islands have emerged as a key Centre for India’s ‘Blue Economy’ and ‘Biotechnology’ initiatives, aligned with the vision of Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi. The Minister said this while inaugurating the demonstration of Pilot-scale cultivation of Marine Finfish & Seaweed in the Open Sea, Training Programme on Seawater Quality Analysis & a Workshop on Seaweed Culture organised by NIOT, Ministry of Earth Sciences, GoI at the Atal Centre for Ocean Science & Technology for Islands at Dollygunj here on 17th Jan.
Addressing scientists, officials and stakeholders on the occasion, the Minister said India’s future economic value addition will increasingly come from untapped marine resources as the country moves rapidly towards becoming one of the World’s top economies. He highlighted that the Government’s strong focus on the Blue Economy reflects Hon’ble Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi’s vision that India cannot develop in isolation by focusing only on the mainland while leaving behind Island Territories and Coastal Regions.
The event was held at Atal Centre for Ocean Science and Technology for Islands, a unit of National Institute of Ocean Technology, under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, at Dollygunj, Sri Vijaya Puram. The programme was attended by Mr. Bishnu Pada Ray, Member of Parliament from A&N Islands, Dr. M. Ravichandran, Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences, senior officials of the A&N Administration, scientists from NIOT and other research institutions, and representatives from local departments and Self-Help Groups.
Praising the consistent and energetic representation of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands in Parliament, the Minister said that sustained advocacy has ensured that national attention and resources are directed towards island development. He recalled that since 2014, the Prime Minister has given the highest priority to the North Eastern region and island territories, a shift that is now clearly visible in the scale of scientific, administrative, and ministerial engagement in the region.
Referring to the Deep Ocean Mission, Dr. Jitendra Singh said it was a matter of pride that the Prime Minister announced the mission not once but twice from the ramparts of the Red Fort, underscoring India’s commitment to the ‘Blue Economy’. He highlighted that marine resources, long under-explored, will play a decisive role in sustaining India’s growth trajectory as conventional resources get exhausted. The Blue Economy, he said, will significantly contribute to employment generation, exports, environmental sustainability, and overall economic resilience.
The Minister highlighted key initiatives launched and demonstrated during the programme, including the pilot-scale open sea cage culture of marine fish and large-scale seaweed cultivation. He expressed satisfaction that technology transfer has already taken place, reflecting a ‘Whole-of-government, whole-of-society’ approach towards building a developed India. Emphasizing the importance of local suitability, the Hon’ble Minister said certain marine species and coastal properties unique to the A&N region make it the most appropriate location for such projects.
Dr. Jitendra Singh also spoke at length on the integration of biotechnology with ocean sciences. He pointed out that India is among the few countries with a dedicated biotechnology policy, BioE3 (Biotechnology for Economy, Environment and Employment), and said marine bio-resources can provide biodegradable alternatives to plastic, new medicinal compounds, and high-value bio-products. Such initiatives, he added, will generate employment, protect the environment, and strengthen the bioeconomy simultaneously.
The Minister further highlighted emerging areas such as non-animal food products, alternative marine-based nutrition, waste-to-wealth technologies, and export-oriented marine produce, noting that there is a growing international market, particularly in Europe. He stressed that Self-Help Groups and women’s participation must be enhanced so that these initiatives supplement household incomes and strengthen the “Vocal for Local” and “Local for Global” vision.
Concluding his address, Dr. Jitendra Singh expressed appreciation for the enthusiasm and dedication of scientists and local stakeholders, and said that with institutional collaboration, including potential involvement of CSIR and biotechnology research centres, the A&N Islands can emerge as a major hub of India’s Blue Economy initiatives. He reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to sustained engagement with the region and conveyed confidence that these efforts will yield long-term scientific, environmental, and socio-economic benefits for the islands.
Earlier, in his address, the Member of Parliament, A&N Islands, Mr. Bishnu Pada Ray said that under the leadership of the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi these islands are moving fast on the path of progress. Mentioning about his visit to the Lab of ACOSTI, the MP said bio-plastic is prepared with seaweed which, he said, is a great achievement by the NIOT for these Islands’ and urged for creating greater awareness. He further said these Islands have received the Blue Flag Certificate for Tourism and this achievement will be beneficial & helpful for the betterment of tourism prospects of A&N Islands.
Pointing out that a good number of resorts & hotels have been developed at various places in A&N Islands, the MP urged for putting in place Sewage Treatment Plants to treat wastewater (sewage) to remove contaminants, making it safe for its discharge, which he said, is very essential. Apprising the Minister that Sea bass & Grouper Fish has good market potential, the MP urged the Minister to look into the matter for the establishment of Fish Processing Units in A&N Islands which, he said, will fetch good revenue for A&N Islands economy. He also requested the NIOT for creating greater awareness among the masses regarding the farming of Marine Finfish & Seaweed in Open Sea and Seaweed Cultivation and its vast potential & benefits for the Islanders.
Welcoming the chief guest and others present on the occasion, the Secretary, MoES, Dr. M. Ravichandran thanked the Minister for coming all the way from the mainland and inaugurating the important training programmes devised by NIOT such as Finfish Farming, Seaweed Farming and Seawater Quality Analysis. As our Country aims for the Viksit Bharat- 2047, each one of us needs to contribute to the growth of the country.
In his address, the Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Science & Technology, Dr. Sachin Shinde said that A&N Islands have immensely benefitted from the schemes as well as expansive services provided by the Ministry of Earth Sciences. The sense of achievement of A&N Administration has further increased with the three programmes inaugurated by the Minister on 17th Jan. The expansion of Blue- bio-technology under the Blue Economy is being implemented in A&N Islands effectively for which he expressed his gratitude to the Ministry.
The Commissioner-cum-Secretary further stated that recognizing the vast marine potential of the Islands and the need to diversify livelihood options for coastal communities, the A&N Administration has adopted a phased approach covering scientific validation, institutional collaboration, regulatory support, capacity building, and beneficiary participation. As a first major step, the A&N Administration entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with CSIR-CSMCRI in 2020 to undertake a pilot project on seaweed cultivation along the Andaman coast under the Central Sector component of PMMSY. To further strengthen mariculture development, the Administration executed an MoU with ACOSTI-NIOT in 2024 and as part of this, a pilot seaweed demonstration was successfully conducted at Chidiyatapu in October 2024 over an area of 1,000 square metres using 10 rafts developed by NIOT for cultivation of Gracilaria edulis, to assess the technical and commercial feasibility of open-sea seaweed farming. Through these integrated efforts, the A&N Administration aims to scale up seaweed and cage culture as sustainable, environmentally responsible, and income-generating activities, thereby contributing significantly to livelihood enhancement, marine resource conservation, and the overall blue economy of the A&N Islands, he said.
The programme was also attended by the Director, Fisheries, Ms Jagtap Kalyani Rajendra, Dr. Dilip Kumar Jha, Officer-incharge-, ACOSTI-NIOT.
Proposing vote of thanks, Dr. G. Dharani, Group Director, MBT, NIOT thanked the Minister for his gracious presence and constant encouragement for the series of activities being carried out by NIOT for the benefit of the people.
