The United Arab Emirates (UAE) hosted a special capacity building training programme for Somalia and Yemen on banking and artisanal fisheries.

The two-day workshop, organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MOFAIC) in collaboration with the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) from 13th to 14th August 2017 in Abu Dhabi, focused on cooperative banking and artisanal fisheries.

IORA Somalia and Yemen Development Programme (SYDP) brought together experts and officials from Somalia and Yemen and IORA Member States with a view to promote the sharing of knowledge and best practices; integrate the less privileged and marginalised communities of Somalia and Yemen; and enhance the capacity for human development in Somalia and Yemen.

Addressing the event, Fahad Obaid Al Taffaq, Director of Economic and Trade Affairs at Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, said the fisheries sector represents an important source of income, which can also contribute to job creation, food security and poverty alleviation in both Yemen and Somalia.

He also spoke about the need to have proper financial services which can influence the development of artisanal fisheries and to promote access to appropriate banking services and adequate infrastructure to develop small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs).

Heads of Somali and Yemeni delegations expressed their thanks to the UAE government for the kind initiative of hosting the workshop and providing the logistic support in this respect.

Fahad Obaid Al Taffaq along with Secretary-General of IORA chaired the interactive session of the workshop in which representatives of countries expressed satisfaction at the recommendations produced following discussions.

The event attracted a line-up of experts and professionals on fisheries, SMEs financing from government and private institutions in the UAE and IORA member states.

Source: Wam