Tanzania is expanding its deep-sea fishing sector and blue economy as a strategy to generate employment for women and young people, Prime Minister Mwigulu said this week. The announcement came during a meeting with Geraldine Mukeshimana, Vice-President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development, on the sidelines of the Norman E. Borlaug International Dialogue in Des Moines, Iowa, on Tuesday.
The Prime Minister highlighted that IFAD has been financing deep-sea fishing projects under Tanzania's Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries and supporting blue economy development through Zanzibar's Ministry of Blue Economy and Fisheries. He described these initiatives as important and said they are being prioritised because of their potential to create jobs for women and young people.
Mukeshimana commended Tanzania's role in regional food security, describing the country as a major source of food production for neighbouring areas. She said Tanzania had established itself as a hub for reliable food production in Africa and was doing significant work in feeding neighbouring regions.
Mukeshimana also noted the advantage Tanzania gains from having leadership with experience spanning both agriculture and finance. She indicated that IFAD would continue funding projects aimed at reducing hunger and poverty by investing in rural communities, improving their access to markets and strengthening how their livelihoods can withstand climate challenges.
For Tanzanian savers, borrowers, business owners and investors, these initiatives mean potential job creation in fishing and related sectors, though the specific scale and timeline for employment gains were not detailed. The Borlaug Dialogue, which began on 20 October, brings together global stakeholders to discuss food security and agricultural development.