The two-day Somalia Yemen Development Programme held under the auspices of the Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies (KUFOS) as part of the International Conference on Blue Economy and Aquatic Resources (AQUABE 2019) concluded at Kochi in Friday with the delegates deciding to meet again in Somalia and Yemen to take forward the road map conceived as part of the conference.
The highlight of the two-day international event was the recognition accorded to KUFOS by Indian Ocean Rim Organisation, (IORA) under whose patronage the conference was held.
“KUFOS and vice chancellor A Ramachandran would play a major role in empowering and strengthening the fishing activities of these two countries (Somalia and Yemen) to lift them out of the present economic situation,” said Dr Nomvuyo N Nokwe, secretary general, IORA at the conclusion of the conference.
Dr Nokwe described the two-day event as fruitful affair. “This was no ordinary conference. The wealth of data provided by KUFOS and the participating delegates have made us to take decision to meet again within six months with an action plan to resuscitate the fishing sector in these two countries,”said the secretary general.
Earlier addressing the delegates, Prof Ramachandran said that innovation and skill development are the two major spheres in which Somalia and Yemen were found lacking.
“We are willing to share our skills and innovations with the fishermen of these two countries which, I am sure, would be a win-win situation for all stake holders,” said Ramachandran.
