The Director General of the European Commission for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Ms. Charlina Vitcheva, will be in Tanzania for a three-day visit from September 9 to 11, 2024, as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen the partnership between the two parties in the fisheries and blue economy sectors.
During her visit, Ms. Vitcheva will meet with various stakeholders and government dignitaries and attend the 8th Meeting of Ministers Responsible for Oceans, Inland Waters, and Fisheries of the Organization of African, Caribbean, and Pacific States (OACPS) on September 11 at the Julius Nyerere International Convention Centre.
This meeting, whose opening will be presided over by the President of the United Republic of Tanzania, Samia Suluhu Hassan, will convene more than 70 ministers, focusing on the blue economy and strategizing for the development of the fishing sector.
The EU has become a significant partner in Tanzania’s sustainable fishing management and blue economy advancement. The union has already provided TZS 332.5 billion in support for flagship blue economy initiatives.
Through this funding, the program focuses on building climate-resilient blue economy coastal cities, including Zanzibar, and the Indian Ocean’s Exclusive Economic Zone. It aims to protect coastal ecosystems, promote sustainable, job-intensive businesses, and foster long-term growth through transformative governance and policy reforms.
Ms. Vitcheva, who visited the country just one year ago, will this time visit the Tanzania Fisheries Research Institute (TAFIRI) research facility in Kunduchi and the Marine Parks and Reserves Unit to learn about and observe activities related to conservation, marine governance, and support for the livelihoods of communities living in marine parks.
Ms. Vitcheva will also meet with Tanzania’s Minister of Livestock and Fisheries, Abdallah Ulega, and several Tanzanian startups working on solutions for sustainable development within the blue economy, selected for the Blue Invest Africa initiative.
