Govt plans to transform Andhra's coastline into commercial hub

Metro India News | AMARAVATI

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Monday directed officials to draft a comprehensive vision plan to transform the state’s coastline into a thriving commercial hub. The Chief Minister held a meeting with officials and experts on coastline development, instructing them to conduct a holistic study focusing on development projects, investments, employment opportunities and the benefits for fishermen across the southern state’s 1,000-km long coastline.

“Create a comprehensive development vision plan for Andhra Pradesh’s coastline so that it will transform into a hub buzzing with commercial activities,” said Naidu in an official press release. According to him, global discussions are focusing on the blue economy, especially the ocean economy, due to its immense resources.

Noting that aquaculture has been developed in the southern state, the CM said Andhra Pradesh tops marine exports in the country through its shrimp and fish exports.

He called for improving value addition in aquaculture products. Likewise, he directed officials and experts to initiate measures to protect marine bio-diversity, and concentrate on the rare earth minerals available in the sea and the coastline to make use of them, among other guidelines.