MoES Hosts National Workshop to Boost Blue Economy Investment and Innovation

In a landmark initiative aimed at unlocking the vast potential of India's oceanic resources, the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), Government of India, in collaboration with its Strategic Knowledge Partner, convened a national-level Brainstorming Workshop on Blue Economy Investments on Friday, July 25, 2025, at Prithvi Bhawan, Lodhi Road, New Delhi.

The workshop, chaired by Dr. M. Ravichandran, Secretary, MoES, brought together a diverse group of stakeholders, including senior officials from central and state governments, private investors, academia, start-up founders, multilateral institutions, and financial sector experts, all with a common goal: to chart a transformative roadmap for India’s Blue Economy.

Understanding the Blue Economy: A National Imperative

India, with a vast 7,500 km coastline and an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of over 2 million sq. km, possesses immense untapped maritime potential. The Blue Economy—which encompasses sustainable economic activities related to oceans, seas, and coastal areas—offers avenues for trade expansion, climate-smart development, job creation, and technological innovation.

Recognising the sector's strategic and economic importance, the MoES has taken the lead in developing a comprehensive National Blue Economy Investment Strategy. This workshop represents a critical step in operationalising that vision by facilitating cross-sectoral dialogue and actionable outcomes.

Workshop Focus: Investment, Startups, and Ease of Doing Business

The workshop was structured around three thematic pillars that reflect India’s broader economic reform agenda:

1. Trade and Investments: Deliberations focused on integrating blue economy opportunities into India’s FDI and export frameworks. Stakeholders discussed mechanisms to improve maritime trade corridors, port-led logistics, and international maritime partnerships.

2. Startups and Innovation: The role of blue tech entrepreneurs in addressing challenges such as marine pollution, sustainable aquaculture, and ocean-based renewable energy was explored. Special emphasis was placed on incubation ecosystems, R&D support, and creating market access for marine innovations.

3. Ease of Doing Business in Blue Economy: Participants identified regulatory bottlenecks and proposed reforms to simplify business operations, streamline marine licensing, and improve inter-agency coordination, especially in the fisheries, coastal tourism, and shipping sectors.

Insights and International Experiences

The event featured compelling insights from Indian and international experts who shared case studies from countries like Norway, Indonesia, and Australia, where blue economy investments have led to sustainable growth, livelihood generation, and export diversification.

Experts discussed financial instruments including blended finance, blue bonds, sovereign risk guarantees, and public-private partnership (PPP) models to de-risk investments in emerging marine sectors.

White Paper Release: “Ocean of Opportunities”

A key highlight of the event was the release of a comprehensive white paper titled “Ocean of Opportunities: Trade, Investments, and Start-ups in the Blue Economy,” authored under the guidance of MoES and its strategic partner.

While launching the report, Dr. M. Ravichandran remarked:

“The Blue Economy must become a growth multiplier for India. We need to develop investor-ready projects, leverage innovative financing, and build regulatory enablers to unlock value from our oceans in a sustainable way.”

The white paper outlines a roadmap for:

• Enhancing access to capital for early-stage marine enterprises

• Improving state-level readiness for maritime investment projects

• Fostering technology ecosystems for marine data, ocean clean-up, and offshore renewable energy

• Creating regulatory coherence across ministries, departments, and coastal state agencies

Toward a National Investment Strategy

Deliberations at the workshop culminated in results-driven recommendations, including the creation of:

• A National Blue Economy Investment Facilitation Cell

• Blue economy-specific startup funds and accelerators

• Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) frameworks to guide responsible growth

• Capacity-building initiatives at state and municipal levels

The outcomes of the workshop are expected to feed directly into the forthcoming National Blue Economy Investment Strategy, positioning India to capitalize on global interest in ocean-linked development while safeguarding environmental and community interests.

Looking Ahead: A Sea of Possibilities

The July 2025 brainstorming session is more than just a consultation—it signals India’s intentional shift toward strategic ocean governance. By convening experts across sectors and identifying bankable, sustainable maritime ventures, MoES has taken a definitive step in aligning India’s development trajectory with blue growth principles.

With focused investment, innovation, and institutional commitment, the Blue Economy could contribute significantly to India’s GDP, create millions of coastal jobs, and support India’s climate goals in the years to come.