ZCZC
BSS-09
RIZVI-BLUE-ECONOMY
Rizvi for more research to explore blue economy potential
DHAKA, NOV 24, 2018 (BSS) – Prime Minister’s International Affairs
Adviser Dr Gowher Rizvi today stressed conducting research and developing
skilled manpower aiming to reap the optimum benefits from the emerging ‘blue
economy’ of the country.
“We need to give more importance on research and knowledge. We have made
great strides…we want to fully utilise the opportunities (blue economy).
Without research, without building human resource capacity, without
developing skills, we will not be able to do that,” he said.
Dr Rizvi was addressing a discussion on ‘Potential of Blue Economy in
Transforming Future Bangladesh’ at Krishibid Institution Bangladesh in the
city’s Khamarbari area.
Bangladesh Agricultural Economists Association (BAEA) arranged the
discussion with its President and Secretary of the Prime Minister’s Office
Sajjadul Hasan in the chair.
Secretary (maritime affairs unit) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Rear Admiral (Retd) Md Khurshed Alam made a powerpoint presentation while
BAEA Secretary General Prof M Kamruzzaman also spoke at the discussion.
Rizvi said all the concerned stakeholders need to work in an integral
way to unlock the true potential of the blue economy and the ocean, adding
that following the maritime boundary verdict over Myanmar and India, the size
of Bangladesh has almost doubled including the marine areas.
“Ocean is offering its bounty to us and we must find out a way of
accepting that bounty,” he added.
Rizvi also noted that opening up of the blue economy has given the
countrymen a new hope of the opportunities of doing things, which they could
not even dream even 10 years back.
The PM’s Adviser put emphasis on creating a supra-structure which will
be able to coordinate the management of blue economy.
“Unless, you will be able to do that, I don’t believe we will be able to
avail the maximum advantage,” he said.
Rizvi also put emphasis on focusing more on domestic tourism through
creating a strong domestic base of tourism.
Speaking on the occasion, Professor Emeritus Sattar Mondol stressed
deepening academic engagement, boosting research activities, reorientation of
the Ministry of Fisheries on blue economy aspects and engaging private sector
to avail the opportunities of the blue economy.
Marine scientists, researchers and scholars from the University of Dhaka
and Bangladesh Agricultural University, and representatives from the
Ministries of Fisheries and Livestock, Shipping, Energy and Mineral
Resources, Civil Aviation and Tourism took part in the discussion.
In his powerpoint presentation, Rear Admiral (retd) Md Khurshid Alam
termed the Bay of Bengal as the third neighbour and highlighted some of the
aspects of blue economy like marine aquaculture, blue biotechnology, marine
genetic resource, maritime transport shipping, coastal shipping, and
introduction of long-line fishing, cruise line tourism, offshore wind energy
and seabed mining.
He said blue economy is the only long-term strategy to attain
sustainable growth in the marine and maritime sectors as a whole. “Although
blue biotechnology is an important component of this, it is inextricably
linked to other economic activities in the marine space, including shipping,
tourism and conventional fisheries.”
Mentioning that gas hydrate could be a future source of energy in
Bangladesh, he said India has already explored this and Bangladesh needs to
carry out research to tap this huge potential.
Noting that there is scarcity of skilled manpower in the country to
harness the potential of blue economy, Alam said there is a need to groom
skilled oceanographers in the country to unlock the marine potential.
Speakers and participants at the discussion underscored the need for
adopting fish forecasting technology, unlocking the true potential of
aquaculture to generate employment, ensuring sufficient cooling facilities to
avoid post harvest loss of fisheries, conducting dredging on the hilsa
routes, bringing seaweeds under the purview of the Ministry of Fisheries from
the Ministry of Agriculture and ensuring the use of modern fishing devices.
BSS/ASG/GM/MRI/1603 hrs