Speed Post News Network
New Delhi : NITI Aayog will host an Investors’ Conference on August 10, 2018, at Pravasi Bharatiya Kendra here for the Holistic Development of Islands. The conference will be inaugurated by Amitabh Kant, CEO, NITI Aayog. It will attract investment for the sustainable development of eco-tourism projects in Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep islands.
The 11 anchor tourism projects are proposed to be implemented with private sector participation under suitable risk-sharing model and through open-competitive bidding. NITI Aayog, along with the respective UT Administration is organising an Investors’ Conference on August 10 with stakeholders.
Sustainable development of islands and overall maritime development has been accorded high priority by the Government. Island Development Agency (IDA), an apex body, under the chairmanship of Union Home Minister, was constituted in June 2017, while NITI Aayog has been mandated to steer the Holistic Development of Islands programme, along with the respective UT administration/ State Governments. Under the said programme, in the first phase 10 Islands in Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep have been taken up for holistic development, according to a PIB release.
The IDA has reviewed 11 anchor tourism projects (6 in Andaman & Nicobar and 5 in Lakshadweep) and several other infrastructure projects, inter-alia, Ro-Ro ferry services, desalination plants, digital connectivity, green energy, for implementation in the first phase for holistic development of these islands. For enhanced connectivity, airport at Diglipur shall be made operational for civilian aircrafts by December 2018, while Agatti airport is being expanded and in-principle clearance has been accorded for greenfield airport at Minicoy.
The aforesaid anchor tourism projects have been identified on Government owned land in Smith, Aves, Long, Neil & Little Andaman Islands of Andaman & Nicobar, and in Kadmat, Suheli & Minicoy islands of Lakshadweep. Out of these 11 projects, 7 (4 in Andaman & Nicobar and 3 in Lakshadweep) are in “Ready to Launch” stage.