THE government has signed an agreement with China’s Rongcheng Xinyang Ship Industry Ltd for the construction of three deep-sea fishing vessels.
The contract was signed in Dar es Salaam on Monday, with the Agriculture and Fisheries Development Programme (AFDP) funded by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) being the key signatory.
Dr Bashiru Ally, the Livestock and Fisheries minister, said at the signing ceremony that the move is expected to expand the country’s fishing capacity and increase the sector’s contribution to the national economy.
Under the agreement, two of the vessels will be operated by the Tanzania Fisheries Corporation (TAFICO), while the third will be allocated to the Zanzibar Fisheries Corporation (ZAFICO).
The initiative is part of efforts to implement the government’s 2025 election manifesto and Vision 2050, both placing emphasis on transforming the fisheries sector, he said, thanking IFAD for financing the construction of the vessels through the AFDP.
Partnerships between the government and development partners are essential to unlocking Tanzania’s potential in deep-sea fishing, he said,
He said increased investment in deep-sea fishing would help the country make better use of its marine resources while creating opportunities for economic growth and employment.
Dr. Jim Yonazi, the Policy, Parliamentary Affairs, Coordination and Persons with Disabilities permanent secretary in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), said the signing is a milestone in fisheries development.
The construction of the vessels would contribute to economic growth by strengthening capacity to participate more effectively in deep-sea fishing and utilize the country’s marine resources.
Salum Mwinjaka, the PMO AFDP coordinator, said the contract marked a crucial step towards achieving the programme’s objectives within the planned timeframe.
He reaffirmed government commitment to ensuring that beneficiaries and the wider population derive maximum economic and social benefits from ensuing opportunities.
The AFDP is designed to promote sustainable and climate-resilient commercial production, covering crop seed production for maize, sunflower, beans and other legumes, as well as fisheries and aquaculture development, he stated.
The programme also seeks to empower women and increase youth participation in productive economic activities, creating opportunities for greater inclusion in the agricultural and fisheries value chains, he said.
The programme is coordinated by the Prime Minister’s Office and implemented by the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries, the Ministry of Agriculture, and Zanzibar’s Ministry of Blue Economy and Fisheries.
Key institutions involved are TAFICO, ZAFICO, the Agricultural Seed Agency (ASA), the Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute (TARI) and the Tanzania Official Seed Certification Institute (TOSCI).
The construction of the three vessels is expected to expand local deep-sea fishing capacity, stimulate investment, create employment and increase government revenues, while strengthening the overall contribution of fisheries to the national economy, he added.