Vadodara, June 30 (IANS) Union Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Rajiv Ranjan Singh, on Tuesday called for a time-bound strategy to transform Gujarat into the country’s leading centre for inland fisheries, saying the state’s natural resources offered significant opportunities to strengthen the “Blue Economy”.

Speaking at the valedictory ceremony of the fourth Vibrant Gujarat Regional Conference in Vadodara, Singh said Gujarat possessed considerable untapped potential despite already having one of India’s longest coastlines.

He said the state’s numerous village ponds across several districts could be utilised more effectively to expand inland fisheries and increase economic activity linked to the Blue Economy.

“Gujarat possesses not only a long coastline but also tremendous potential for inland fisheries,” Singh said.

The minister noted that Gujarat accounts for nearly one-third of India’s total saline water resources, providing a strong foundation for shrimp production and related industries.

“Inland fisheries currently account for only two per cent of India’s fisheries exports from Gujarat, indicating substantial scope for expansion,” he said.

To unlock that potential, Singh recommended wider adoption of advanced technologies, including Artificial Intelligence and the Internet of Things (IoT), along with stronger hatchery systems, greater investment in cold chain infrastructure and improved transportation networks.

He urged the Gujarat government, scientists, entrepreneurs and other stakeholders to work together on a coordinated action plan to establish the state as a global inland fisheries hub.

Singh said such efforts would support both Gujarat’s economic growth and the national vision of “Viksit Bharat”.

The conference concluded with investment proposals worth more than Rs 3.34 lakh crore through 3,759 memoranda of understanding (MoUs), expected to generate more than 1.97 lakh potential employment opportunities.

Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel also addressed the concluding session.

Additional Chief Secretary for Industries, Mamta Verma, presented an overview of the conference’s planning, implementation, and outcomes.

Artisans and entrepreneurs from various sectors were honoured during the ceremony.

–IANS

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