Kerala-EU Blue Economy Conclave yields investment proposals worth Rs 7,288 core

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:

Kerala’s maritime economy has received a massive boost at the Kerala-European Union Blue Economy Conclave Blue Tides by yielding business proposals worth Rs 7,288 crore.

This was disclosed by Minister for Fisheries, Culture and Youth Affairs Saji Cherian as the two-day event drew to a close at Kovalam this evening.

Addressing the valedictory session of the conclave, Cherian said the investment proposals came from 28 investors.

The European Union, the key partner of the conclave along with the Government of India, made a request to the state to establish a platform to facilitate future engagement with EU countries.

“This conclave has not only achieved what it set out to do but its outcome has gone beyond the initial targets and has set an example for the country,” said, Cherian.

“This conclave has marked the beginning of a major boost for Kerala’s fisheries sector,” said Cherian, who recalled Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s words while inaugurating the event that it has opened the door for innovations, sustainable and inclusive development of both seas and the coast.

He said 28 investor have signed expression of interest during the conclave and the state also made a beginning for close cooperation with European countries.

European Union ambassador to India, Herve Delphin, said during their interaction with the Chief Minister, the ambassadors had submitted a proposal to create a platform for engaging with EU states as the “Team Europe” realised that there are many avenues for cooperation with Kerala.

Delphin said the team of EU envoys saw this conclave as a continuation of global Blue Economy summit held in France earlier this year. He said his team covered much ground during discussions with Kerala officials and saw a lot of areas of possible collaboration, especially in the fields like healthcare and IT.

Recalling the various topics explored during the panel discussions at the conclave, Dr A Jayathilak, Chief Secretary Government of Kerala, noted that the event covered an array of subjects from sustainability, cutting edge technology, climate change resilience to global cooperation on logistics.

Special representative of Kerala Government at New Delhi, Professor KV Thomas, said the organisers had faced a lot of hurdles in the run up to the conclave and it was the strong backing from the Chief Minister and organisational capacity of Sri Cherian that helped Kerala pull off such a successful conclave. He also thanked the European ambassadors for travelling to Thiruvananthapuram and staying at the globally known tourist hub Kovalam and hoped there will be more such interactions in future.

Department of Fisheries Special secretary Abdul Nasar B welcomed the gathering and Fisheries Director Chelsasini V thanked the gathering.