At the event, ODYSSEA identified and connected with potential end users of its planned oceanography station.
The EU-funded ODYSSEA Project participated in the 7th edition of the Fisheries and Aquaculture International Fair – Salon International de la Pêche et de l’Aquaculture (SIPA 2017), held in Oran, Algeria on 9-12 November, 2017.
ODYSSEA was represented at the event through local Partner Nord Sud Ventures (NSV).
The Fair was a major event addressing the needs of the fast-growing Fisheries and Aquaculture (FA) industry in the country and the wider Maghreb region.
The FA sector represents a key component of the national strategy to strengthen and diversify primary sector in order to meet the challenges linked to demographic expansion and reduction of economic dependency on oil-based activities.
The participation and active involvement of leading International organizations at the event, which was dedicated to sustainable development and to the protection of biodiversity (UNDP, ACCOBAMS), highlighted the engagement of National authorities and Civil society in issues related to balanced development and the preservation of natural resources.
SIPA 2017 confirmed the determination to support, in every possible way, the cooperation between the Public sector, Knowledge carriers and Industry entrepreneurs, which constitutes a non-negligible novelty for Algeria and to much more or less extent for the rest of North Africa as well.
In this context, the ODYSSEA Project was able to identify and connect with numerous potential end users of its services and pave the way for a major breakthrough that is bound to bring the establishment of local operational oceanography station in Algeria[D1] .
« Our vision » said NSV Chairman, Arslan Chikhaoui « is to effectively encourage PPP[D2] , and contribute to the development of real capacities at local level, to embrace both the industry and the public sector and guide them in the appropriation and use of the most up to date techniques”.
“ODYSSEA provides us with the opportunity for a true head start helping Algeria cover the lost ground and partner with leading players from all over the Mediterranean and the European Union in the Blue Economy sector,” Chikhaoui concluded.
