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NEPAD, ECCAS Sign MoU On Fisheries
NEPAD Planning and Coordinating Agency and the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen the implementation of the policy on fisheries in Central Africa.
This was contained in a statement signed by Dr Sloans Chimatiro, the Senior Fisheries Advisor, NEPAD Agency at the 17th African Union Summit in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, a copy made available to newsmen in Abuja.
Chimatiro said that the MoU was signed by Dr Ibrahim Mayaki, the NEPAD Agency Chief Executive Officer and Gen. Louis Sylvain-Goma, the Secretary-General of ECCAS.
The agreement, according to him, is aimed at supporting the implementation of efforts between NEPAD Agency and ECCAS, with a view to assisting the Regional Fisheries Commission to strengthen its capacity to implement the regional fisheries strategy for the region.
The MoU, the Advisor added, include assisting ECCAS to increase the contribution of fisheries to the economic growth and the strengthening of the role of fisheries in the implementation of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) at the national and regional levels
He said that the MoU would expedite the integration of the policy on fisheries into the regional economic community agenda and processes, provide technical support to ECCAS in developing and implementing the Regional Plans of Action, to reduce illegal fishing.
He said that the MoU was also aimed at developing the capacity of ECCAS member states to design and implement fisheries policy and governance reforms, which would enhance the integration of fisheries into the regional value chains whilst also improving access to international fish markets.
The statement added that NEPAD Agency’s support to ECCAS would also result in strengthening human, institutional and professional capacities in the sub-region, to enable ECCAS member states tap the rich potential of the resources of the resources of the sub-region.
“ This support has been made possible through funding from the UK Department for International Development (DFID), within the context of the Partnership for African Fisheries”, the statement said.