KOCHI: The Andaman and Nicobar Administration has conveyed to investors from Kochi that it will provide single window clearance for interested entrepreneurs and will develop a fishery industrial park to facilitate tuna fisheries development on the Islands. The message was conveyed by Anindo Mazumdar, Chief Secretary, A&N Administration here while attending a stakeholders’ meet here on development of tuna fisheries in Andaman and Nicobar islands. The event was organised by the ICAR-Central Island Agricultural Research Institute, Central Institute of Fisheries Technology and the CMFRI in association with the A&N administration.
Mr Anindo Mazumdar said that A&N islands being endowed with unexploited abundant marine fishery resources, is still a virgin place for the Investors and emerging entrepreneurs to come forward to take advantage of tuna and other resources of the Islands. “Port Blair is now well connected with 16 flights every day with main land and steps have already been initiated for launching of high speed internet connectivity in the Islands. Apart from this single window clearance for interested entreprenuers will be provided and fishery industrial park too will be developed,” he added. Dr S Dam Roy, Director, ICAR-Central Island Agricultural Research Institute, Port Blair, pointed to increasing fishing capacity, setting up of seafood processing facilities and encouraging direct exporting for the development of the sector.
An interactive session attended by more than 130 stakeholders comprising investors, fish-processors, entrepreneurs, progressive fishermen from different coastal states namely Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Kerala along with officials from A&N Administration, Departments of Kerala, MPEDA, Matsyafed, ANIIDCO, NABARD, ICAR-CIFT and ICAR-CMFRI, was the highlight of the meet. Concerns were raised by the prospective investors relating to administrative support and vessel management facilities. Issues related to resources availability like required amount of quality ice, water, power, berthing and repair facilities for vessels and bycatch processing facilities were also discussed in detail.
