A national conference focused on the Blue Economy commenced at KIIT-DU in Bhubaneswar, emphasizing the theme of “navigating the marine ecosystem value chain.” The event featured prominent speakers, including Dr. Parvinder Maini, Scientific Secretary at the Office of Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, Dr. M V Ramanamurthy from the Ministry of Earth Sciences, and Dr. Jitendra Kumar, Managing Director of DBT-BIRAC.
This pioneering conference is a collaborative effort among various esteemed organizations, including the Indian Phycological Society, KIIT University, DBT-Institute of Life Sciences, and the National Institute of Oceanography, among others. Its primary aim is to explore the vast potential of India’s blue economy, which encompasses sustainable practices in the utilization of marine resources.
Odisha’s Minister of Science and Technology, Ashok Panda, addressed the gathering, highlighting the recently announced biotech policy by the state government that focuses on aquatic resource management. With Odisha boasting a significant 480 km coastline, Panda emphasized the state’s crucial role in the blue economy. He stated that the region’s rich marine resources, including chill and mangrove forests, along with a substantial budget of ₹3.50 lakh crore, will be pivotal in leveraging the marine economy.
Dr. Maini highlighted the conference’s timeliness, noting that 40% of the global population resides near oceanic regions, which are essential for energy production, food supply, and the transportation of 80% of global trade. He pointed out that the blue economy contributes around $6 trillion annually to the global economy and called for a collective effort to protect ocean resources while exploring sustainable pathways for the blue economy’s expansion.
Prof. Mrutyunjay Suar, Director of R&D and Innovation at KIIT, noted that Odisha serves as an ideal launchpad for advancing the blue economy initiatives in India. Following this line of thought, Dinabandhu Sahoo, President of the Indian Phycological Society and a senior professor at Delhi University, emphasized that the global valuation of the blue economy stands at $24 trillion, underlining the ocean’s immense future potential for humanity.
This conference not only underscores the critical importance of marine resources for sustainable development but also aims to bring together stakeholders and experts to foster innovative solutions and collaborative approaches towards achieving a robust blue economy in India, particularly in the context of Odisha’s rich marine ecosystem.
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