Bhubaneswar: The Global Summit on Blue Economy 2026 began on Thursday at the Convention Centre, Lok Seva Bhawan, bringing together policymakers, researchers, industry leaders and startups to explore opportunities for sustainable ocean-based development.
The summit was inaugurated by Odisha Chief Secretary Anu Garg, who highlighted the state’s vision of leveraging its vast coastal resources to accelerate economic growth. She noted that Odisha’s 575-km-long coastline, along with its strengths in economy, demography, geography and ecosystem, provides a strong foundation for expanding sectors such as fisheries, maritime infrastructure, coastal tourism and marine biotechnology.
Garg said the state aims to play a greater role in India’s economic growth and contribute significantly to national development goals under the vision of a developed Odisha by 2036.
Offering a national perspective, M. Ravichandran, Secretary of the Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India, highlighted the immense potential of ocean resources. He pointed out that more than 95 per cent of the deep ocean remains unexplored globally, presenting opportunities in areas such as offshore energy and marine biotechnology while also calling for stronger research to address climate change, coastal erosion and marine pollution.
Karlito Nunes, Ambassador of Timor-Leste to India, spoke about the importance of international collaboration in advancing Blue Economy initiatives and strengthening marine sectors.
Principal Secretary of the Commerce and Transport Department, Government of Odisha NBS Rajput emphasised the strategic significance of Odisha’s coastline and called for enhanced collaboration, innovation and infrastructure development to support fisheries, aquaculture and coastal livelihoods.
The two-day summit is being organised by the Bhubaneswar City Knowledge Innovation Cluster Foundation in association with the Commerce and Transport Department under the guidance of the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India. The inaugural session began with a welcome address by Mrutyunjay Suar, Chairman of the foundation.
More than 500 participants, including policymakers, researchers, entrepreneurs and students, are attending the summit. During the inaugural session, a Blue Economy Technology Compendium and an academic abstract book were released, while a startup showcasing pavilion featuring innovations from 26 startups across coastal Odisha was also inaugurated.
The summit will deliberate on key themes such as fisheries and mariculture, marine biodiversity, climate resilience, maritime security, marine pollution, offshore energy, deep-sea mining, marine biotechnology and AI-enabled ocean intelligence.
Officials said the event aligns with national initiatives such as Maritime India Vision 2030 and the vision of a developed India by 2047, while highlighting Odisha’s growing role in advancing sustainable ocean-based industries.
