Sri Vijaya Puram, Sept. 8: The Andaman & Nicobar Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ANCCI) and representatives of the Islands’ fisheries cooperative and fishermen’s organisations have welcomed the appointment of Dr. Dinesh Sharma as the new Lieutenant Governor of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, expressing confidence that his administrative experience and development-oriented leadership will help advance economic growth and strengthen key sectors across the Union Territory.
The Andaman & Nicobar Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ANCCI), the Andaman & Nicobar Fisheries Cooperative Federation Ltd. (ANIFCOFED) and the Fishermen Welfare Association conveyed their congratulations and best wishes to the Lieutenant Governor. The organisations also reaffirmed their commitment to work with the Administration on initiatives aimed at promoting the Islands’ overall development and public welfare.
Representing the fisheries sector, ANIFCOFED Chairman S. U. Maheswar Rao and Fishermen Welfare Association General Secretary B. Hema Raju said the Andaman and Nicobar Islands hold considerable potential for growth in deep-sea fishing, tuna fisheries, aquaculture, fish processing, seafood exports, value addition and fisheries cooperatives. They expressed hope that greater emphasis would be placed on strengthening fisheries infrastructure, improving facilities at fish landing centres, modernising fishing harbours and expanding marketing and export opportunities for locally produced seafood.
The fisheries representatives also highlighted the need to improve cold-chain infrastructure, cold storage and ice facilities, transportation and logistics, promote the use of modern fishing vessels, strengthen fishermen welfare measures, expand skill development initiatives and improve access to government fisheries schemes to support sustainable development of the sector.
ANCCI President Dr. K. Chandrasekharan said the Islands possess significant opportunities in tourism, fisheries, marine activities, logistics, shipping, renewable energy, hospitality, MSMEs and other emerging sectors. The Chamber stated that the Andaman and Nicobar Islands have the potential to emerge as an important gateway for India’s Act East Policy and a key centre for sustainable economic activity in the Bay of Bengal.
The Chamber identified improved air and sea connectivity with the mainland and international destinations, expansion of tourism infrastructure, promotion of high-value and sustainable tourism, investment facilitation, development of roads, ports, jetties and logistics infrastructure, support for MSMEs, start-ups, food processing and local entrepreneurship, strengthening maritime trade and logistics, employment generation and environmental protection as important priorities for the Islands.
Both organisations assured the Lieutenant Governor and the Andaman and Nicobar Administration of their full cooperation in initiatives aimed at advancing inclusive, sustainable and investment-led development. They expressed confidence that closer collaboration between the Administration and stakeholders would help unlock the Islands’ economic potential while improving the livelihoods of fishermen, supporting local enterprise and promoting long-term prosperity across the Union Territory.
