The International Fleet Review (IFR) of the Indian Navy began here on Thursday amid festive fervour. This is the second IFR being held in the country with the first being held in Mumbai.

Several foreign countries are participating in the review with their warships. The main event, the fleet review by President Pranab Mukherjee, will be conducted on Saturday morning.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu arrived in the afternoon and laid a wreath at the Victory-at-Sea memorial on the beach road to pay homage to the martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the country. He was accompanied by Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral RK Dhowan and Vice-Admiral Satish Soni, the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Eastern Naval Command.

Later, Naidu inaugurated the IFR village and the maritime exhibition organised by the Navy in the grounds of Andhra University Engineering College.

He said Visakhapatnam is the gateway to the country from the east coast. “When we made the offer to host the IFR in Visakhapatnam, the Navy Chief agreed readily and the event would give a great boost to the image of the fast-growing city of Vizag,” he said.

He praised the prowess of the Indian Navy, which will be on display during the next four days, and he welcomed all the foreign delegates to the IFR 2016.

He said the Navy would play a vital role in not only in safeguarding the shores of the country but in its economic growth as well.

At the maritime exhibition several industries supplying components and products to the Indian Navy displayed their products. Several cultural programmes were also organised on the occasion.

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