The Italian government will disburse €3.5 million to ensure the sustainable development of marine and coastal resources in Cabo Delgado province, northern Mozambique. To formalize this commitment, a memorandum was signed on Thursday (15) between the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) and the National Institute of the Sea (INAMAR).
Quoted by Lusa, Italy’s ambassador accredited to Mozambique, Gabriele Annis, explained that the activities will be carried out under the “Programme for the Sustainable and Integrated Development of Marine and Coastal Resources,” launched in the city of Pemba, marking the partnership among the various stakeholders involved.
“The initiative has a complementary approach, with one component managed by the civil society organization Oikos and another directly managed by AICS, allowing the combination of field experience with institutional coordination,” he explained.
According to Gabriele Annis, the project is part of a consolidated cooperation trajectory, which also includes other programmes focused on the opportunities that oceans and coastlines create for the economy, but with a specific emphasis on sustainability and respect for the biological balance of natural resources.
“The programme implemented with the technical and financial support of Italian cooperation, including initiatives in partnership with the oil company Eni, will focus on crucial areas: institutional strengthening, biodiversity conservation, training and technical capacity-building in maritime spatial planning and management, and the development of policy instruments that ensure long-term sustainability,” he added. The diplomat also noted that the memorandum signed with INAMAR is a “living instrument,” providing for technical cooperation, experience sharing, capacity building and, above all, the joint development of solutions adapted to the Mozambican context.
Meanwhile, the Secretary of State for the Sea and Fisheries, Momade Juízo, welcomed the agreement, noting that it comes at a time when there is a need to ensure the conservation and preservation of marine ecosystems through the responsible use of national maritime space, with a view to the country’s sustainable development.
“The cooperation is aligned with the Government’s guiding instruments, which encourage economic diversification through an integrated approach that includes the principles of the blue and green economy, and represents the continuation and consolidation of the institutional partnership between Mozambique and Italy in the field of sustainable management of marine ecosystems,” he concluded.
Source: Diário Económico
