President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has stated the NooRaajje programme will be crucial in achieving the pledge of the government to protect 20% of the ocean. The president made the remarks in a video message played at the launching event of NooRaajje Programme in partnership with the Blue Prosperity Coalition.
Delivering the remarks, President Solih emphasised 98% of the Maldives’ territory is ocean highlighting the dependence on it for our livelihoods and economy. The president said transitioning to a Blue Economy is one of the pledges of the government and a key component of vision for an island nation, where the continued development does not compromise the beauty and health of ecosystems, or the traditional Maldivian way of life.
Further, the President underlined the natural resources will be utilised responsibly to strengthen major industries such as tourism and fisheries, while exploring ways of diversifying the economy. He expressed hope it will help the country recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, and shape a resilient, environmentally sustainable economy.
NooRaajje programme was launched at a live broadcast on state media channel, Public Service Media (PSM). This programme is a partnership between the government and the Blue Prosperity Coalition, consisting of five years’ worth of projects to gain deeper scientific knowledge of the Maldives ocean, while building up Maldivians’ capacity to conserve their marine ecosystems.
The NooRaajje programme will run from 2020 through 2024, and comprise of scientific expeditions into the Maldives’ ocean spaces, shaping policy on the proper use of marine resources, and consultations with communities to devise better means of protecting the Maldives’ marine ecosystems.
Among key aims, the programme will help the government implement a legally binding Maritime Spatial Plan spanning the Maldives ‘Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ); and advance efforts to designate at least 20% of the Maldives’ ocean as protected areas.