India seeks to be maritime, int’l trade power: Pranab

President Pranab Mukherjee on Saturday said India is desirous of once again emerging as a major centre for international trade and become a maritime power as he inaugurated the country’s largest heritage conservation project here.

The initiative called the Muziris heritage project is an ambitious plan comprising development and conservation of palaces, museums, a synagogue and a number of archaeological monuments in the state and is being implemented by the Kerala Tourism department with support of its central counterpart.

“Being the largest conservation project in the country and first green project of Kerala government, Muziris heritage project has a lot to boast about, be it in the area of heritage, conservation or tourism,” he said. Mukherjee said he has been informed that the next phase of this project is the ‘Spice Route Initiative’ which will explore international connections and linkages that the Malabar coast had with many parts of the world.