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Odisha Charts Blue Economy Course for Viksit Odisha 2036 Vision

Chief Secretary Anu Garg inaugurated a Global Summit on Blue Economy, positioning Odisha's long coastline and strategic advantages as key to achieving its Viksit Odisha 2036 vision. She outlined a target for the state to contribute 5% to India's GDP by 2047 through sectors like fisheries and marine biotechnology. Dr. M. Ravichandran highlighted the vast unexplored potential of oceans while noting challenges like pollution and climate impacts. The summit fosters international cooperation and aims to publish selected research, aligning with national maritime and development goals.

Key Points: Odisha's Blue Economy Strategy for Viksit Odisha 2036

  • Harnessing 575 km coastline for growth
  • Targeting 5% contribution to India's GDP by 2047
  • Focus on fisheries, tourism, and marine biotech
  • Aligning with Maritime India Vision 2030
  • Emphasizing sustainable innovation and research
2 min read

Chief Secretary highlights blue economy potential for Viksit Odisha 2036

Chief Secretary outlines Odisha's plan to harness its 575 km coastline for fisheries, tourism, and biotech to drive growth and contribute 5% to India's GDP by 2047.

"Think India, Think Odisha - Chief Secretary Anu Garg"

Bhubaneswar, March 13

Chief Secretary Anu Garg on Friday said that the state would achieve its ambitious vision of a Viksit Odisha by 2036 by harnessing its huge potential in the blue economy.

While addressing the gathering during the inauguration of a Global Summit on Blue Economy 2026 at the Lok Seva Bhawan here, Garg, highlighting the potential of ocean-based sectors to drive economic growth, emphasised Odisha's EDGE, strong economic fundamentals, favourable demography, strategic geography and a robust state ecosystem, along with its 575 km coastline.

She outlined the ambition for Odisha to contribute 5 per cent to the country's GDP by 2047, with key contributions expected from fisheries, maritime infrastructure, coastal tourism, and marine biotechnology through OMBRIC (Odisha Marine Biotechnology Research and Innovation Corridor).

Meanwhile, in her concluding remarks, Garg reiterated the vision of "Think India, Think Odisha," positioning the state as an emerging hub for Blue Economy growth and innovation.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr M. Ravichandran, Secretary of the Ministry of Earth Sciences, highlighted the vast potential of the oceans, noting that over 95 per cent of the deep ocean remains unexplored globally.

He emphasised both the opportunities in sectors such as offshore energy and marine biotechnology, and the challenges of climate impacts, coastal erosion, and marine pollution, stressing the need for stronger research and innovation to sustainably harness ocean resources.

Meanwhile, the Ambassador of Timor-Leste to India, Karlito Nunes, who attended the summit, shared insights on his country's focus on strengthening marine and coastal sectors and highlighted the importance of international cooperation and partnerships in advancing Blue Economy initiatives.

According to an official statement, the two-day programme will feature discussions on key sectors including fisheries and mariculture, marine biodiversity, climate resilience, maritime security, marine pollution, offshore energy, deep-sea mining, marine biotechnology, and AI-enabled ocean intelligence.

Students, researchers, and faculty will also participate, with abstracts published in the conference souvenir.

Selected research contributions will be considered for publication and excellence recognition in association with Taylor and Francis. The summit aligns with India's vision of Maritime India Vision 2030 and Viksit Bharat @2047, while highlighting Odisha's growing role as a hub for innovation and sustainable ocean-based industries, supported by its long coastline and strategic maritime position.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Good to see a focus on sustainable growth. But I hope they have a solid plan to tackle coastal erosion and pollution first. We can't build a blue economy on a damaged foundation. The research part with students is encouraging though.
R
Rohit P
"Think India, Think Odisha" – love that slogan! If executed well, this can put Odisha on the global map for marine tech. The partnership with Timor-Leste shows we're thinking internationally. Jai Odisha! 🙏
M
Michael C
As someone working in sustainable development, the mention of AI-enabled ocean intelligence is very forward-thinking. India's coastal states have immense potential. Hope the innovation corridor attracts real talent and investment.
S
Shreya B
Ambition is good, but 5% to national GDP by 2047? That's a very tall order. We need to see concrete yearly targets and transparency. My respectful criticism: these summits often produce great speeches but slow action on the ground.
K
Karthik V
The focus on marine biotechnology is key. We have so much biodiversity in our waters that can lead to new medicines and products. Glad students and researchers are involved – that's how you build capacity for the long term.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

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