Union, Zanzibar deepen Blue Economy ties

DODOMA: THE Union and Zanzibar governments are strengthening cooperation in expanding citizens’ participation in the Blue Economy through financing, skills development and sustainable management of marine resources.

Deputy Minister of State in the Vice-President’s Office (Union and Environment), Mr Reuben Kwagilwa said this in the National Assembly in Dodoma yesterday when responding to a basic question from Nadra Ghulam Rashid (Special Seats, CCM), who wanted to know the joint strategy being pursued by the two governments in implementing blue economy policies.

He said the two governments are collaborating in implementing the National Blue Economy Policy 2024 and Zanzibar Blue Economy Policy 2022, alongside their respective strategies and implementation plans.

“The two governments are strengthening cooperation to ensure that citizens benefit from the opportunities available in the Blue Economy while promoting sustainable management of marine resources,” Mr Kwagilwa said.

Mr Kwagilwa said areas of cooperation included coordinating blue economy matters, preparing a Marine Spatial Planning framework for sustainable use of marine areas, providing public education and coordinating regional and international agreements, protocols and resolutions related to the sector.

In a supplementary question, Ms Rashid asked how the governments was supporting citizens, particularly women’s groups engaged in seaweed farming and fishing, to access capital and participate effectively in blue economy opportunities.

She also wanted to know how many people from both sides of the Union had benefitted from the joint initiatives. Responding, Mr Kwagilwa said various government funds are supporting women individually and through groups, enabling them to participate in available blue economy opportunities.

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He said a 150 million US dollar climate change and community development project is also being implemented in 65 councils across the country, including 11 in Zanzibar, providing communities with opportunities to participate in blue economy activities.

Mr Kwagilwa said the Blue Economy covered several sectors, including fishing, energy and tourism, making it difficult to provide a single figure for the number of beneficiaries.

He said the fishing sector alone involved millions of Tanzanians and contributed about 2.2 per cent to the national economy.

Mr Kwagilwa said Tanzania had also made progress in advancing the blue economy agenda regionally and internationally, adding that the country will host the 12th meeting of a regional convention in 2026 to discuss conservation and sustainable development of marine resources in the Western Indian Ocean.

He said the meeting will bring together 10 countries, including Mauritius, Madagascar, Comoros, France, Djibouti, Kenya, Somalia, South Africa and Tanzania.

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