Port Blair, Dec. 4: ANIIDCO in association with the A&N Administration organized a ‘Destination Andaman - Investors Conference’ today at ITC Maurya, New Delhi for the development of tourism projects in A&N Islands. The Investor’s Conference was chaired by Admiral D K Joshi, PVSM, AVSM, YSM, NM, VSM (Retd.), Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor, A&N Islands and Vice-Chairman, Islands Development Agency (IDA), attended by Shri Keshav Chandra, IAS, Chief Secretary, A&N Administration, Smt. Nandini Paliwal, IAS, MD, ANIIDCO and other senior Officers of A&N Administration and ANIIDCO.
The Investor’s Conference was organized for obtaining feedback and suggestions from potential investors for making the initiative for the development of tourism projects in A&N Islands a success and also to reach out to the potential investors, so that they bid when the RFPs are floated in the market. The conference was attended by more than 150 delegates from the leading hospitality industry including Taj, Oberoi, ITC, Surrendra Park, Sterling Holidays, Mahindra Holidays, etc.
During the conference, the Hon’ble Lt. Governor highlighted the strategic importance of the A&N Islands and the rapid transformative development being undertaken including setting up of a Transshipment Port in Great Nicobar Island, Cruise Tourism, Development of Marina, Expansion of the existing Helicopter Fleet, Development of the Deep-Sea Port in North Andaman, etc. Hon’ble Lt. Governor highlighted that Andaman Islands are bigger than many Island nations and offer unique potential for development confirming to the sustainable development norms, considering more than 90% of the Island area has green cover.
The Chief Secretary highlighted various initiatives taken by the A&N Administration for improving and strengthening the infrastructure related to connectivity, power, water supply, etc. which will provide impetus to the development of tourism in the Islands. During the conference, presentations were made by the technical consultants on the development of four Islands viz. eco-tourism projects in Long Island, Aves Island, Smith Island and Shaheed Dweep; the development of Megapode Resort and holistic development of 11 Islands/ sites spread across North Andaman, Middle Andaman and South Andaman.
The projects will be implemented on Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode. The developer is expected to design, build, finance, maintain, and operate the projects under a concession agreement. ANIIDCO shall be the Project Management Agency (PMA) as approved by the IDA and the authorised representative of the A&N Administration to deal with all aspects of the concession agreement. Development parameters such as permissible number of rooms, activities, building and construction standards shall be pre decided by the Govt. considering ecological sensitivity, bio diversity of the Islands and their strategic locations. The Projects will conform to internationally acknowledged benchmarking standards /norms like GRIHA/ LEED/ Green Globe.
The main objective of the projects is to provide world class and sustainable tourism infrastructure with low environmental impact and provision for socio economic involvement of local population. The developer will be responsible to provide a high component of employment to the local youth.