The INA Kochi Chapter participated in the KUFOS International Conference – Blue India 2026, where Mr. Jathesh Chandra, Secretary, and Dr. Ishaq S. Makkar, Professional Secretary, represented the Chapter. The presentation, “From Cheena Vala to Deep Sea Fishing: Building Bridges to Blue India 2047”, highlighted the interconnected roles of fisheries, shipbuilding, academia, research institutions, industry, regulators and coastal communities in advancing India’s Blue Economy. Drawing on Kochi’s unique maritime ecosystem, the session emphasized the value of collaboration in driving innovation and sustainable growth across the sector.

The discussion focused on the growing need for modern, efficient deep-sea and offshore fishing vessels, while showcasing ongoing collaborative efforts towards indigenous vessel development under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY). It also explored wider opportunities in areas such as boatbuilding, digitalisation, ocean engineering, marine technologies, training and environmental sustainability. The session reaffirmed the importance of strengthening partnerships between academia, industry, government and the maritime community to support the vision of Blue India 2047 and encouraged greater engagement from professionals in shaping future collaborative initiatives.