The government revealed that the Blue Economy Development Fund (ProAzul), created in 2019, has already financed small projects by fishing operators, valued at 510 million meticais (7.9 million dollars), generating around 15,000 jobs. This is a financial mechanism designed to maximize Mozambique’s high potential in maritime resources.
According to Prime Minister Benvinda Levi, ProAzul provides financial means to support the sustainable exploitation of resources in inland waters, the sea, and along the coastline, as well as the conservation of marine ecosystems, ultimately benefiting the Mozambican population and stimulating socioeconomic development.
“Since its creation, 20 companies have been financed, benefiting 4,624 operators in the small-scale fishing value chain through co-financing, generating 6,163 direct jobs and 9,105 indirect jobs in the fishing and aquaculture value chain,” Levi announced on Wednesday, August 13, during the swearing-in ceremony of Oswaldo Petersburgo as the new president of ProAzul.
“Despite these actions having social and economic impact, we recognize that we can still do more and better for the population, local communities, and the business sector, especially Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs),” she emphasized.
In this context, the Prime Minister urged the new ProAzul president to “improve the design, coordination, and implementation mechanisms for structuring and sustainable programs and projects within the blue economy, and to continue supporting initiatives that benefit MSMEs as well as artisanal fishermen, who are the main generators of employment and income for the population, especially women and youth.”
“We call for directing public and private investments toward priority projects and actions in the blue economy, as well as focusing on establishing partnerships to mobilize additional financial resources. It is necessary to promote mechanisms that contribute to good maritime governance, monitoring, scientific and technological research, as well as the protection and supervision of the marine environment, which are fundamental conditions for the sustainable development of the blue economy,” she stressed.
Artisanal fishing continues to dominate total production in Mozambique. According to the 2022 Census of Artisanal Fishing and Aquaculture (CEPAA), released last year, nearly 400,000 people and more than 42,000 vessels are involved in this activity, operating in both inland and maritime waters.
Source: Diário Económico
