BSS, Dhaka :
Bangladesh has called upon Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations to include Bangladesh in its Blue Economy Initiative.
Fisheries and Livestock Minister Muhammed Sayedul Hoque made this call at a meeting with Director General of FAO Jose Graziano Da Silva in his office in Rome on Monday, an official handout said here Saturday.
It said the minister is attending the 31st session of the Committee on Fisheries (COFI) in Rome.
Blue Economy Initiative is recently gaining popularity in various countries of the world. It is an integrated development strategy for fisheries, aquaculture, marine tourism and ecosystem preserving local system of production and consumption.
The minister said Bangladesh is a riverine country. It has a vast coastal area with an ample scope for marine fisheries development. He also called for expanded cooperation for fish feed and seed development programs with special focus on climate change.
FAO Director General Graziano expressed his satisfaction with the ongoing projects of FAO in Bangladesh. He also agreed to deepen collaboration with the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock with a special focus to climate change and blue growth initiative.
FAO is implementing 25 projects in Bangladesh costing 85 million US Dollar including agriculture production, Livestock and Fisheries sector Development and animal disease control.
