AS plans are underway to revive the Tanzania Fishing Corporation (TAFICO), the government of Japan has provided a financial grant of 4.2bn/- to support the implementation of the project.
The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance, Mr Dotto James, and interim Japanese Ambassador to Tanzania, Mr Katsutoshi Takeda, signed the exchange documents and grant agreement in Dar es Salaam on Friday.
Mr James explained that the support had come at a very critical moment when the government was in the process of reviving TAFICO, a project that ranks high in the development agenda, which seeks to improve the social-economic well-being of the citizens.
“Under this project, the following equipment will be supplied; fishing vessel (A multipurpose fishing vessel with trawl gallows for stern trawlers, with the ability to freeze at least five days of fishing trips), ice making machine, cold room storage, fishing gear,” he explained, adding: “Others are tools for workshop marine (lLather machine, presser), refrigerated vehicle and pickup vehicle for supplying fish,” Mr James said that successful implementation of the project would contribute significantly towards achieving the objectives of the country’s Five Year Development Plan II, which, among other goals, aims to improve the performance of the fisheries sector and ultimately attract more Tanzanians to engage in it as their main incomegenerating activity.
Between 2012 and 2019, the government of Japan has provided a total of 451.31bn/- as grants and 891bn/- as soft loan for projects in Tanzania.
The growth rate of the fishing sub-activity was 9.2 per cent in 2018, which was higher than 8.4 per cent recorded in 2017, attributed mostly to proper management of fish hatcheries, including privately-owned ponds and increased demand for fish and fish products in the domestic and foreign markets.
He said the share of fishing sub-activity in GDP was 1.7 per cent in 2018, which confirms that fishing is important to Tanzania’s economy and the grant will complement government efforts towards attaining Tanzania’s Development Vision 2025, Sustainable Development Goals 2030 and African Development Agenda 2063.
Mr Takeda noted that his government appreciated that Tanzania had the same understanding towards sustainable use of aquatic living resources, which was essential for food security, job opportunities, income and livelihood of people all over the world.
“It is for this reason that Japan approved this grant that will be used to implement the revival of Tafico. Japan has always supported Tanzania in various sectors, including infrastructure, power generation and distribution, health, and water to mention a few,” he elaborated.
He said they expected the project to help in alleviating poverty and attract more Tanzanians to engage in fisheries as their main income-generating activity.
According to Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries, Dr Rashid TamahTamah, reviving Tafico needs 45bn/-.
“The interim management team formed by the minister to confiscate all Tafico assets successfully manages to supervise the return of assets worth 118bn/- , including real estate, receiving this grant today is a boost to the project,” he noted.
Dr Tamah further said the revival of the corporation must be per the law so a bill has been prepared which will be tabled in the parliament in February 2020 to be adopted as a law after which Tafico will be officially revived.
