DAR ES SALAAM: THE Tanzania National Business Council (TNBC) has launched a new working group focused on the ‘Blue Economy’, to explore economic opportunities and promote socio-economic growth in the country.
The TNBC Blue Economy Working Group was inaugurated in Dar es Salaam over the weekend. Members from various sectors, including the private sector, expressed optimism about the group’s potential contribution to Tanzania’s economic development.
Speaking at the meeting, which took place at the Prime Minister’s Office in Dar es Salaam, Mr Abdallah Mitawi, Deputy Permanent Secretary (Union) at the Vice President’s Office, underscored the importance of the working group in identifying opportunities for the Blue Economy to support national economic growth.
He explained that the initiative aligns with directives from President Samia Suluhu Hassan, following the 2012 Rio de Janeiro and 2019 African Union (AU) summits, which highlighted the potential of the Blue Economy to drive economic growth across Africa.
This growth can be supported through the sustainable use of resources from oceans, rivers, lakes and aquatic life, including fish and marine products.
Mr Mitawi noted that Zanzibar had already started implementing the Blue Economy framework in 2019, with notable progress including the establishment of a dedicated ministry to oversee its activities.
On the mainland, he said that the Blue Economy policy was officially introduced earlier this year, with the next step being its coordination. The Vice-President’s Office, specifically the Environment Division, has been tasked with this responsibility.
He said that the Blue Economy is a cross-cutting sector, influencing various industries, including fishing, mining, natural resources, tourism, energy, manufacturing, trade, environmental conservation, investment and irrigation.
“We are here to explore both the opportunities and challenges within the Blue Economy and to develop recommendations that will ensure this sector makes a substantial contribution to the growth of other sectors in the country,” he said.
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Head of the Blue Economy Unit at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Ambrose Mugisha, pointed out that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) predicts that Tanzania’s economy will double over the next decade, positioning the country as a leader in East Africa.
This growth will be fueled in part by opportunities within the Blue Economy, thanks to the country’s abundant water resources, including oceans, rivers and lakes.
He also said that Tanzania’s population is expected to reach 100 million in the coming decade, with many of these people playing a key role in driving the success of the Blue Economy, provided that effective implementation strategies are put in place.
According to IMF projections, the Blue Economy sector is expected to be one of the fastest-growing global sectors over the next 10 to 15 years.
This is why President Samia Suluhu Hassan has recently visited countries like South Korea to explore potential areas of collaboration.
Head of the Natural Resources Unit at the European Union (EU), Lamine Diallo, said that the EU has been providing funding for various Blue Economy-related projects in Tanzania, with a focus on sectors such as fisheries and climate change.
TNBC Executive Secretary, Dr Godwill Wanga noted that one of the key outcomes of the meeting was the consensus on the need to improve the environment surrounding the Blue Economy in Tanzania.
“We agreed to prioritise several areas that will contribute to the rapid growth of this sector and the broader economy,” he said.
Dr Wanga thanked development partners, including the EU, UNDP and other private sector stakeholders, for their support and encouraged them to continue assisting the growth of the Blue Economy in line with President Samia’s government initiatives.
