ZANZIBAR – The Zanzibar government is currently implementing a series of reforms aimed at enhancing the blue economy sector, which includes fishing and agriculture, to increase revenue and create employment opportunities.
This initiative is highlighted by Ali Khamis Juma, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation, Natural Resources, and Livestock, who spoke yesterday at the inaugural “Africa’s Top Venture Building Forum.”
During the two-day forum, focused on “Grow Africa Innovation and Economic Competition,” Juma emphasizes the government’s commitment to ensuring that Zanzibar’s population benefits from the blue economy through marine products.
He states, “We are prepared to collaborate with various sectors to ensure that youth groups gain from these investments.”
Shigeki Komatsubara of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in Tanzania is also highlighting UNDP’s support for poverty alleviation by fostering young people’s creative talents.
Komatsubara notes that such efforts are essential for economic growth and community development, aligning with the UNDP’s goals to prioritize young people’s creativity in entrepreneurial ventures.
Said Suleiman, the Executive Director of the CUBE Innovation Hub, a civil society organization, is also stressing their cooperation with international institutions to promote self-employment among the youth in agriculture and the Blue Economy.
Suleiman underscores their dedication to investing in systems that enable young people to engage in organic farming and marine product activities without harming the marine environment.
Ocean-based activities, including tourism, contribute more than 29% of Zanzibar’s gross domestic product and employ about 33% of its workforce. However, 60% of tourism workers in the islands are foreign, indicating a significant opportunity for local employment growth.
In mid-2023, the African Development Bank Group and the Tanzanian government launched a US$54M initiative to drive job creation for youth in Zanzibar’s blue economy.
The African Development Bank Group pledged US$48.65M in grant financing, with an additional US$5.42M contributed by the Tanzanian government.
The project, officially launched on May 17, 2023, was expected to benefit approximately 43,000 youth, 40% of whom are female, and prepare over 1,500 of them to start their own enterprises.
Liked this article? Subscribe to Food Business Africa News, our regular email newsletters with the latest news insights from Africa and the World’s food and agro industry. HERE
