The envisaged visit by President Samia Suluhu Hassan in Tanga Region will be a windfall to local fishermen along the Northern Indian Ocean Coastline.
According to the Tanga Regional Commissioner, Dr Batilda Buriani, the head of state’s inaugural tour in the precinct will specifically target the development of the blue economy along the shoreline.
President Hassan is to hand out a total of 84 vessels to fishermen and seaweed growers in Tanga being part of the government’s initiatives to boost the blue economy sectors along the Indian Ocean coastline as well as the corresponding Isles.
Dr Burian, revealed that during President Samia Suluhu’s visit to Tanga which commences on the 23rd of February 2025, she will distribute a total of 50 motorized fiber boats to seaweed famers and also issue 34 modern fishing boats, to the local fishing communities.
Tanga Region is mapped along 180 kilometers of meandering shoreline bordering the Indian Ocean.
The authorities in Tanga want to transform the area into the hub of the fishing industry in Tanzania.
“Seaweeds farming is becoming a booming industry for women in Tanga, but at the moment they are in dire need of the required facilities such as boats and other tools to boost production,” Dr Buriani maintained.
Now President Samia intends to facilitate them with the required equipment.
“Apart from providing the fishermen and seaweed producers with the boats, President Samia will also promote the concept of clean energy in the Region,” said Dr Buriani.
The Regional Commissioner said President Samia will also distribute more than 28,000 gas cylinders to various households to reinforce the presidential initiative to boost environment-friendly cooking fuel.
“The President is honoring our region with an eight-day visit being her first tour of the region since ascending to power in March 2021,” Dr Buriani stated, adding that the head of state will address the public in a number of public rallies.
The Regional Commissioner hopes that the Presidential visit will also help to speed up the revival of defunct factories and other productive entities in Tanga, in addition to visiting all the districts in the region.
“Many of the previously thriving factories in Tanga closed shop after the collapsing of the former East African Community (EAC) in 1977 which comprised Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, we are working to revive them,” said Dr Buriani, reminding that the region used to be an industrial hub in the 60s and 70s.
During her eight days tour culminating on the 3rd of March 2025, President Samia Suluhu will be inaugurating a number of productive sectors and economic zones.