Today in New Delhi, the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) orchestrated a consultative workshop to discuss the status of the Blue Economy Pathways study report. The event brought together a diverse array of experts from esteemed institutions including the World Bank, and various line Ministries such as the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Niti Aayog, Ministry of Port Shipping and Waterways, Ministry of Tourism, along with several state and national R&D organizations.
The focal point of the workshop was the collaborative efforts of each line Ministry in shaping the report. MoES, in collaboration with the World Bank, has spearheaded a technical study aimed at producing a seminal report titled ‘India’s Blue Economy: Pathways for resource-efficient, inclusive and resilient growth in India’. This report is anticipated to delve into global best practices in Blue Economy implementation, ocean accounting frameworks, institutional strengthening, and innovative finance mechanisms crucial for implementing the Blue Economy Policy framework.
The Blue Economy holds the promise of being the next frontier for economic growth and well-being, provided sustainability and socio-economic welfare remain its cornerstone. It is envisioned to substantially enhance the livelihoods of coastal communities, conserve marine ecosystems, and fortify the security of marine areas. Furthermore, it is anticipated to foster a comprehensive ecosystem of state-of-the-art scientific and technological research in India across various facets of the Blue Economy, encompassing strategic, scientific, political, environmental, and economic domains.
India boasts a distinctive maritime position with its extensive 7,517 km coastline and Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) spanning over two million square km, teeming with both living and non-living resources. The coastal economy supports over 4 million fisherfolk and other coastal communities. Given these expansive maritime interests, India’s Blue Economy is intricately linked with the nation’s economic growth trajectory. The objective is to efficiently and sustainably harness ocean resources, bolster ocean-related capabilities and skills, thereby accelerating employment and gross value addition while upholding environmental conservation in line with UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
As India aspires to emerge as a high-growth economy while concurrently bolstering its capacity to shape the geo-strategic landscape in its immediate and extended vicinity, its maritime role assumes paramount importance. The full potential of marine resources, both living and non-living, remains largely untapped. The realization of this potential hinges not only on a robust maritime power but also on a thriving maritime economy supported by ports, coastal infrastructure, shipping, fishing, seaborne trade, offshore energy assets, tourism, undersea pipelines, communication cables, renewable energy, and seabed resources.
The workshop signifies a crucial step towards charting India’s course in the realm of Blue Economy, underlining the collective commitment of stakeholders to harness the vast potential of the oceans for sustainable and inclusive growth.
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