New Delhi, January 17 (IANS). Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, Dr Jitendra Singh on Saturday said that linking together marine science and biotechnology can strengthen India’s economy, environment and employment opportunities.
Dr Jitendra Singh said this during his visit to the Atal Center for Ocean Science and Technology for Islands (ACOSTI) located in Andaman and Nicobar Islands. During this period, he initiated and reviewed several marine technology projects related to strengthening the blue economy and enhancing the livelihood of the local people.
The Minister said that as India is rapidly growing among the major economies of the world, a large part of the country’s economic growth in the future will come from untapped marine resources.
He said that the government’s special focus on Blue Economy reflects Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision that the country’s development should not be limited to the mainland alone but should also include the islands and coastal areas.
Dr Singh said that marine resources have been under-explored so far, but they will play an important role in sustaining India’s economic growth in the times to come, especially when traditional resources on land are gradually depleting. Blue economy will increase employment, promote exports, protect the environment and strengthen the country’s economy.
He informed that India is among the few countries which have a separate policy for biotechnology, called BioE3 (Biotechnology for Economy, Environment and Employment). Environmentally-friendly alternatives to plastics, new medicines and valuable bio-products can be produced from marine biological resources.
Dr. Singh said that such efforts will simultaneously create new employment opportunities, protect the environment and strengthen the bioeconomy.
He also said that areas like non-animal based food products, new options for marine nutrition, technology to make useful things from waste and marine products for export are emerging rapidly. The demand for these products is increasing especially in Europe.
The Minister stressed that it is necessary to increase the participation of self-help groups and women, so that these schemes help in increasing the income of families and the thinking of ‘Vocal for Local’ and ‘Local for Global’ can be taken forward.
He said that if we work together with organizations like CSIR and biotechnology research institutes, Andaman and Nicobar Islands can become a major center of India’s blue economy.
The Minister assured that the Government will continue to engage with the region and that these efforts will yield long-term scientific, environmental and socio-economic benefits to the islands.
–IANS
DBP/DKP
