The Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Emanuela Del Re, opened the virtual seminar on new professions for sustainable and innovative fishing in the IORA-member countries (Indian Ocean Rim Association). The event was organised by this Ministry, in partnership with the Italy-IORA committee and Federpesca, and attended, among others, by the Ministers of Fisheries of the Seychelles and Somalia, as well as the President of Federpesca, Luigi Giannini.
“Whether it’s fishing, shipping or tourism, many precious livelihood activities for coastal communities may never be the same again after Covid-19. The effects of the pandemic will change the way we travel, the way we choose and purchase products. There will be a growing demand for new skills, new tools and new strategic approaches.” – the Vice Minister said in her opening address.
The goal, Ms. Del Re explained, is to promote the sharing of skills and expertise in the fisheries sector among IORA countries: creating a network of experts and professionals in the fields of training, research and innovation, knowledge and local culture, as well as strengthening the relationships between vocational schools, universities and businesses.
“We believe in a multi-stakeholder approach that can bring together the different Italian players in the blue economy: fishing, shipping, maritime industry, research and education, with a significant involvement of our private sector. For an effective commitment to developing coastal communities, with practical projects dedicated to training, capacity building and empowerment of women. All this with the broader objective of strengthening relations between the Mediterranean region and the IORA member states, promoting growth, sustainable development and regional economic cooperation.” – she continued.
Ms. Del Re then concluded by indicating that Italy will continue its fruitful partnership with IORA in 2021, with the strong belief that the Indian Ocean Region today is one of the most promising worldwide, in terms of its economic opportunities and recovery potential.
