THE government is to establish the Blue Economy Development Department for coordinating, monitoring and evaluating implementation of the National Blue Economy Policy (2024).

Dr Ashatu Kijaji, the Union and Environment state minister in the Vice President’s Office (VPO) made this affirmation at a meeting with the Water and Environment parliamentary standing committee on implementation of the National Blue Economy Policy (2024).

The minister explored work done during the July - October 2024 period as well as work on the Nairobi Convention, noting that in order to ensure that the management process is successful, the VPO has prepared proposals for the new office.

It will oversee all activities on initiatives conducted under the policy, for instance the need to encourage the sustainable use of water resources, where the government will prepare a plan for the use of water resources.

It will cover areas where a guide for the preparation of the water use plan for the year 2023 was prepared, with 13 proposals to be presented to development stakeholders for project funds.

Envisaged funds will help in the implementation of projects covering water and blue economy demands, she said, highlighting that with Tanzania holding the chair of the secretariat committee for the Nairobi Convention it has some urgent work to do.

It is expected to host the 12th meeting of the member countries of the convention, the country expects to benefit from the funds for development projects.

The unit shall also propagate investment opportunities available for various stakeholders in line with opportunities arising when the blue economy field is speeded up, in the wake of completing the policy design, she stated.

 The Nairobi Convention is meant to control pollution of the coastal zone and the sea from land-based activities, while coordinating joint plans and strategies among the member states to preserve, manage and develop the coastal environment, the minister underlined.

Jackson Kiswaga (Kalenga), the committee chairman, praised VPO for unstainable strategies for environmental conservation, pointing at VPO coordination of the environmental stakeholders' meeting held earlier last month, likely to enhance productivity in environmental activities.

VPO needs to put in place strategies to closely limit environmental pollution on water sources in pursuit of sustainability of the blue economy agenda, he added.