The Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation discusses preparations for a new fisheries development project with the World Bank.

Minister of Agriculture Discusses New Fisheries Development Project with World Bank

Today, in the temporary capital of Aden, Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation, and Fisheries, Salem Al-Suqtri, held a virtual meeting with a team from the World Bank. The meeting included representatives from the United Nations Development Programme, ministry leaders, and relevant authorities. They discussed preparations for the new phase of the Fisheries Development Project (SFish2), which has a budget of 50 million dollars, as well as the current project’s implementation status and lessons learned.

Emphasizing Strategic Priorities

Minister Al-Suqtri highlighted the importance of building on the current project’s results and expanding the scope of interventions in the upcoming phase. He stressed the need to involve the ministry and its technical bodies in all stages of project preparation, design, and implementation. Furthermore, he called for enhancing national technical and institutional capacities.

Focus on Aquaculture Development

The minister pointed out the necessity of giving special attention to aquaculture. This includes preparing feasibility studies, identifying suitable locations and species, and developing regulatory and technical frameworks. He also emphasized the importance of leveraging regional and international expertise. Additionally, he mentioned the need to support fish landing centers, cold chain systems, preservation, transportation, processing, marketing, and improving quality control, data management, and fisheries research.

Addressing Coastal Vulnerabilities

Minister Al-Suqtri urged for the project’s benefits to extend to coastal areas and provinces most affected by climate risks. He called for interventions to protect fishermen and their assets, as well as to develop harbors and infrastructure related to fishing activities. He underscored the importance of enhancing the private sector’s role in aquaculture, processing, cold storage, marketing, and exporting.

World Bank’s Commitment to the Project

The World Bank team confirmed the importance of utilizing the current project’s results in designing the new phase. They noted that the project will focus on aquaculture, investment opportunities, and the role of the private sector, along with strengthening institutional and regulatory capacities. They also mentioned coordinating with the International Finance Corporation and the ministry to prepare a preliminary study on investment opportunities in aquaculture and value chains.

To follow the news in Arabic