Sri Vijaya Puram, June 20: The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are set to occupy a prominent place in India’s maritime and economic discourse as the Andaman Ideas Summit 2026 gets underway today in Sri Vijaya Puram, bringing together policymakers, industry leaders, maritime experts, investors and strategic thinkers to deliberate on the future of India’s island territories and the blue economy.
Organised by The Wave Andaman, the one-day summit is themed “Toward a Viksit Bharat: Harnessing the Blue Water Economy” and seeks to examine how the Andaman and Nicobar Islands can play a larger role in India’s economic transformation, maritime strategy and Indo-Pacific engagement.
The summit comes amid growing national and international attention on the islands due to their strategic location near the Malacca Strait, one of the world’s busiest shipping corridors. As India expands investments in connectivity, port infrastructure, tourism and maritime capabilities, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands are increasingly being viewed as both a strategic frontier and an economic gateway in the Bay of Bengal region.
Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs and Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju is scheduled to deliver the keynote address, while Admiral Devendra Kumar Joshi, Lieutenant Governor of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, will share insights on the region’s evolving development priorities, governance framework and future opportunities.
The summit has been conceived as a dedicated platform for structured policy discussions on issues that are shaping the islands’ future. Sessions throughout the day will focus on maritime logistics, regional connectivity, port-led development, coastal supply chains, tourism, sustainability, trade linkages, investment opportunities and the strategic significance of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the wider Indo-Pacific region.
A distinguished line-up of speakers from industry, maritime affairs, policy and strategic sectors is expected to contribute to the deliberations.
Among those participating are Nitin Thakur, Group President – Strategic Initiatives at PRISM, which owns and operates the OYO hotel brand; Tanveer Singh, Managing Director of Symphony Resorts; entrepreneur Ebrahim Jadwet; Naveen Ahlawat, President and Head of Sustainability and Decarbonisation at Jindal Steel; Capt. Ujjwal Vasudeva, Senior Deputy General Manager at L&T Precision Engineering and Systems; Sumant Ahlawat, Chief Executive Officer of Apeejay Shipping; Devki Nandan, Whole Time Director of JSW Infrastructure Ltd, Chairman of the Indian Maritime Centre and President of the Indian Private Ports & Terminal Association; and Capt. Asir Milton, Deputy Conservator of the Marine Department at Chennai Port Authority.
The summit will also feature strategic and policy perspectives from Tuhin A. Sinha, National Spokesperson of the Bharatiya Janata Party and author; Rami Desai, Distinguished Fellow at India Foundation, New Delhi; and Gaurav Sawant, Senior Managing Editor and Defence Journalist with the India Today Group.
Discussions are expected to examine how the islands can contribute more effectively to India’s maritime economy while balancing infrastructure expansion with environmental sustainability. Participants will explore governance models suited to island territories and assess emerging opportunities arising from regional trade networks and connectivity initiatives across the Bay of Bengal.
The forum is also expected to address the challenges and opportunities associated with developing island economies, including issues related to logistics, investment, tourism growth, resource management and sustainable development.
With policymakers and industry stakeholders increasingly recognising the strategic and economic importance of the archipelago, the summit aims to bring national attention to the role that island territories can play in advancing India’s vision of a developed nation while strengthening its maritime future.
Participation in the event has been curated through invitations extended to policymakers, industry representatives, strategic experts, investors and development practitioners involved in shaping India’s maritime and island development agenda. As deliberations begin, the Andaman Ideas Summit 2026 is expected to provide a platform for ideas, partnerships and policy recommendations that could influence the future trajectory of the islands and their role in India’s blue economy ambitions.
