Male, Maldives (CU)_ Dr. Hussain Rasheed Hassan, Minister of Fisheries, Marine Resources, and Agriculture, launched the “Promotion of Blue Economy in the Fisheries Sector the Maldives” initiative. The inauguration ceremony gathered many envoys from Maldives and Japan. The initiative is funded by the Japanese government and executed with the Japan International Cooperation Agency’s (JICA) technical support. Ambassador of Japan to the Maldives, Takeuchi Midori, and senior Ministry officials also participated in the ceremony.
While addressing the event, Minister Dr. Hussain highlighted the bilateral ties between the Maldives and Japan and thanked the Japanese government for its support to the Maldives during and after the 2004 tsunami. The minister also appreciated the Japanese government for its ongoing efforts to improve the Maldivian fishing industry. As part of the Sustainable Fisheries Development Plan [MASPLAN] project undertaken from 2014 to 2017 with the support of the Government of Japan, the Blue Economy project is being developed to address the concerns highlighted for a solution in the fisheries sector.
This project will be executed in three phases. In the first phase, the trade competitiveness of essential oceanic fishing goods that are produced sustainably are enhanced. In the second phase, the live-bait fishery implements resource-efficient production techniques. In the third phase, the adaptability of fishing communities to external changes is improved.
Following the inauguration event, the first joint coordination committee meeting of the project was also conducted. The project will be carried out by the Government of the Maldives with help from the Government of Japan. The primary objective of the project is to improve the fisheries sector in compliance with the government policies and strategic action plans related to its blue economy policy. The Japanese government will fund the whole project, which is expected to conclude in 2024.
