India's progress on blue economy key to its energy self-reliance

07 Nov 2021

India's accelerated progress in developing its blue economy and harnessing its ocean resources is an unalienable key to the country's energy self-reliance, Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedhara. Addressing a Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas Conference on 'Future of Natural Resources (Hydrocarbons, Rare Earth Metals and Blue Economy)', he said India holds a unique maritime position as it is surrounded by oceans on its three sides. Around 30 per cent of India's population is living in coastal areas and its 7,517 km long coastline is home to nine states and 1,382 islands, he noted. For India, its oceans are a major economic factor supporting fisheries and aquaculture, tourism, livelihoods and blue trade, Muraleedharan said. Minerals such as gas hydrates, polymetallic nodules, polymetallic sulphides are abundant in Indian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and the Indian Ocean, he said. The minister said India is one of the frontline nations in marine scientific research and is also actively engaged in exploring the resourceful ocean bed for meeting the country's future energy and metal demands.