The Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources of the Federal Republic of Somalia has officially launched the signing of the offshore Tuna Licenses through accountable and transparent process for the first time in three decades.
In his opening remarks, the minister of fisheries and marine resources Hon. Abdillahi Bidhan Warsame stressed the importance of this historic event, adding that this move would ensure the resources exploited legally in Somalia waters.
“Today we are officially launching this process of granting Tuna Fish Licenses, and this is a move to demonstrate that Somalia is ready to open up for the [fishing] market and issues licenses through the legal means. This is an open and transparent process which ultimately benefits the people of Somalia and boosts their faith in the government in the fiscal management of their natural resources.” He said.
This historic event was also witnessed by the Deputy Prime Minister of the Federal Republic of Somalia H.E Mahdi “Khadar” Mohamed Gulled; Minister of Labor and Social Affairs, Hon. Salah Jama; Ambassador H.E. Mr. Qin Jian, the Chinese Ambassador to Somalia; Mr. Guglielmo Giordano, Head of Italian Agency for Development; Mr. Hugh Riddell, World Bank Somalia Country Representative; and Jonathan Brooks, Country Representative of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
Somalia has the longest coastline in the African continent and has the potential to support a robust and productive fishing industry.