Tanzania envisions new economic gains from the COP12 Conference

DAR ES SALAAM: TANZANIA is set to tap new economic opportunities from the 12th Conference of Parties to the Nairobi Convention (COP12), which begins in Dar es Salaam today, bringing together more than 1,460 participants from 10 member states.

Speaking on TBC1’s Jambo Tanzania programme, Permanent Secretary in the Vice-President’s Office, Dr Richard Muyungi said the conference is expected to open opportunities for Tanzanian youth, businesses and coastal communities to benefit from the country’s vast marine resources and blue economy.

Elaborating, the PS stressed that about 90 per cent of goods and services in the Western Indian Ocean region are linked to the blue economy, with the tourism sector alone estimated to be worth 330 billion US dollars, highlighting the economic potential of the region’s marine resources.

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“For the first time, young people will be directly brought into the conference agenda, particularly through efforts to help them identify and exploit opportunities arising from the ocean, including fisheries, tourism and other marine-based activities to generate income,” he said.

In addition, he said the conference will also provide opportunities for businesses to learn more about the blue economy, while women, particularly those from coastal Zanzibar, are expected to benefit from support aimed at expanding markets for seaweed farming.

Dr Muyungi said seaweed remains an important income-generating crop and that women entrepreneurs would receive knowledge to improve productivity and increase its contribution to the national economy.