Bhubaneswar : Odisha’s growing influence in the national Blue Economy was a key highlight at the Vibrant Gujarat Regional Conference, where the state’s potential for marine innovation and sustainable growth took center stage.
Representing Odisha as a special invitee, Shri Prem Sanker Satpathy, Group Managing Director of the Magnum Group of Companies and a prominent mentor in blue economy startups, articulated a strategic vision for transforming the seafood sector through value creation and biotechnology.
The conference, inaugurated by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and attended by top Union Ministers and industry leaders like Shri Mukesh Ambani and Shri Gautam Adani, served as a platform for Odisha to showcase its progress in fisheries development, climate initiatives, and skill enhancement.
Shri Satpathy emphasized that while India is a global leader in seafood exports, there is an urgent need to transition from raw material exports to high-value, consumer-ready products.
From an Odisha-centric perspective, the roadmap presented focused on the following key areas:
Economic Value Multiplication
The strategy suggests shifting a significant portion of seafood exports into ready-to-cook and ready-to-eat formats. This transition could increase export value by two to five times without requiring an increase in fishing or aquaculture activities, ensuring economic growth remains environmentally sustainable for Odisha’s coastal regions.
Zero Waste and Marine Biotechnology
A major focus was placed on utilizing seafood by-products such as shells and skins to produce high-value items like collagen, omega-3 oils, and bioplastics.
By adopting 100 percent utilization models similar to those in Japan and Norway, Odisha can lead the way in zero-waste processing and marine bio-industries.
Policy and Innovation Frameworks
The proposal called for a National Blue Biotechnology framework and smarter regulatory mechanisms, including single-window clearances and regulatory sandboxes.
These measures are designed to help existing exporters modernize their facilities and foster public-private partnerships that link research institutions with coastal communities.
The suggestions regarding innovation-led partnerships and regulatory sandboxes received positive feedback from senior policymakers and officials from the Union Ministry of Science and Technology.
Shri Satpathy’s participation underscored Odisha’s pivotal role in the national maritime narrative, advocating for deeper inter-state collaboration between Odisha and Gujarat to elevate India’s position in the global seafood market.