TAFICO signs deal with China’s Rongcheng Xinyang Ship Industry to construct deep-sea fishing vessels

DAR ES SALAAM: TANZANIA Fisheries Corporation (TAFICO) has signed a contract with China’s Rongcheng Xinyang Ship Industry Limited for the construction of two deep-sea fishing vessels, in a move aimed at strengthening and increasing productivity in Tanzania’s fisheries sector.

The contract was signed today, August 24, 2026, in Dar es Salaam under the Agricultural and Fisheries Development Programme (AFDP), which is funded by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).

Speaking during the signing ceremony, Minister for Livestock and Fisheries, Dr Bashiru Kakurwa, said the project is part of the implementation of the 2025 Election Manifesto and the National Development Vision 2050, with the aim of transforming the fisheries sector.

Dr Kakurwa thanked IFAD for funding the construction of the vessels through AFDP, stressing the importance of collaboration between the government and the private sector in expanding opportunities in deep-sea fishing and contributing to national economic growth.

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For his part, the Permanent Secretary in the Prime Minister’s Office responsible for Policy, Parliament, Coordination and Persons with Disabilities, Dr Jim Yonazi, said the Prime Minister’s Office, as the lead coordinator of AFDP, considers the signing of the contract an important milestone in implementing the programme.

He said construction of the vessels would contribute to economic growth through deep-sea fishing while enhancing Tanzania’s capacity to fully utilise its marine resources.

AFDP Coordinator in the Prime Minister’s Office, Salum Mwinjaka, said the signing of the contract was an important step towards ensuring that the programme’s objectives are achieved on schedule and that its implementation delivers the intended results.

He said the government is committed to ensuring that programme beneficiaries, as well as the country as a whole, benefit from the opportunities created through the implementation of AFDP.

AFDP aims to promote sustainable, commercially oriented and environmentally responsible production, particularly in the production of crop seeds such as maize, sunflower, beans and other legumes, as well as fisheries and aquaculture.

The programme also seeks to empower women and increase youth participation in productive economic activities.