The ProsperAzul Project, an initiative aimed at promoting and developing the blue economy in Mozambique, has already mobilized around US$7 million (450 million meticais) to support the implementation of priority programs. The announcement was made this Monday (13) in Maputo by Oswaldo Petersburgo, Chairman of the Board of Directors of ProAzul, the public institution responsible for coordinating and promoting the country’s blue economy.
The announcement coincided with the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Blue Economy Development Fund (FP–ProAzul) and German Development Cooperation (GIZ), designed to strengthen collaboration in the blue economy sector. The agreement was signed by Oswaldo Petersburgo and Silke Hassel, GIZ’s program director.
According to Petersburgo, the agreement reinforces the commitment of both institutions to the sustainable development of Mozambique’s blue economy. “The memorandum we signed under the ProsperAzul project, which mobilizes funding of more than US$7 million (around 450 million meticais), will be fully managed by GIZ. It represents not only a financial contribution but also a catalyst for implementing ProAzul’s priority programs and projects.” He emphasized that the partnership will accelerate the consolidation of ProAzul’s strategic positioning and ensure that Mozambicans experience tangible benefits. “The pillars and objectives of this partnership include activating and operationalizing the Blue Economy Observatory and the Blue Economy Council, strengthening financial mechanisms, enhancing institutional capacity, and expanding communication under this program.”
In addition to fisheries, identified as one of the main priorities of the blue economy, Petersburgo highlighted other sectors with strong potential to generate national value, such as aquaculture, coastal tourism, marine product trade, scientific research, marine biotechnology, maritime logistics infrastructure and services, nautical sports, and ocean renewable energy.
For her part, Silke Hassel, representing GIZ, explained that the agreement aims to strengthen ProAzul’s technical and human capacity, improve information management, and increase resource mobilization for the sector. “With this new memorandum, we also want to work with ProAzul on establishing the Blue Economy Observatory and Council, strengthening institutional capacities, and improving data management and funding mobilization.”
The partnership between GIZ and ProAzul began in 2022 and has been built on trust, respect, and joint effort. Since then, the collaboration has achieved results such as training in sustainable blue economy practices, promotion of gender equality, and ProAzul’s integration into the regional platform ‘Our Blue Future’.
With the funding mobilized through the ProsperAzul Project, the partners aim to consolidate Mozambique’s strategic blue economy programs and projects, contributing to sustainable national development and strengthening the ProAzul–GIZ partnership in advancing the sector.
Source: Agência de Informação de Moçambique (AIM)
