Chennai, Aug 20:Ā (UNI) Pitching for unlocking the full potential of blue economy, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay on Thursday urged the Southern Zonal Council (SZC) to place maritime growth at the heart of is agenda.
In his address at the SZC meeting chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, he said no vision for the Southern peninsula is complete without recognising the centrality of the sea. “Our region is home to a significant share of India’s coastline and some of the nation’s most important ports constituting one of India’s greatest strategic and economic assets”.
Urging the Council to place the maritime economy at the heart of the regional agenda, he said an integrated approach, encompassing ports,
coastal shipping, fisheries, marine industries, maritime services, and coastal tourism can unlock the full potential of the Blue Economy.
Vijay said expanding coastal shipping will reduce logistics costs, ease pressure on roads and railways, and strengthen the competitiveness of our industries. At the same time, stronger port,
hinterland connectivity, dedicated coastal economic zones, and coordinated maritime infrastructure can attract investment, create employment, and deepen the South’s integration with global value chains, he added.
The Chief Minister said Tamil Nadu, with its 1,076-km coastline, is ready to partner with its sister States in advancing this shared maritime vision.