BAMAKO, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- A fisheries and aquaculture development plan will soon be financed over three years by Mali's partners to the tune of US$15 million, said a press release issued by the Ministry of Agriculture.by Mali's partners to the tune of 15 million dollars, the Economic Community of West African States the representation of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) at the end of a two-day meeting (November 18 and 19) of the sub-sector in Bamako.

The main condition set by the country's technical and financial partners (TFPs) for this funding has just been met by the Malian Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, according to ECOWAS. The aim was to unify the players in this sub-sector, which is vital to the Malian economy.

"This phase of unification of professionals was the prerequisite for the adoption of an action plan over the next three years. And this plan will benefit from a support of 15 million dollars, or

more than 10 billion CFA francs, from the country's partners," Aboubacar Sidibé, ECOWAS technical assistant for the sub-sector, told the press.

According to the 4th quarter 2019 report of the National Institute of Statistics (INSAT), Mali's fisheries and aquaculture sub-sector contributed 3.9% of the country's GDP. During the same year, fisheries production reached 116,000 tons of fish, placing Mali among the top African countries producing freshwater fish.

The jobs generated upstream and downstream of the fishing industry are estimated at at least 500,000, or 7.2% of active production, added INSAT.

In this regard, an office of the National Platform of Non-State Actors in Fisheries and Aquaculture of Mali (PANEPAM) was set up on Thursday.

The establishment of the Platform will help overcome obstacles to the development of fisheries and aquaculture in the country,

according to an advisor from the Malian Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries. End