Visitas: 110
After the successful World Aquaculture Conference in Darwin Australia the last May, it’s coming the Second Annual International Conference and Exposition of the African Chapter of the World Aquaculture Society (WAS), AFRAQ2023. The event will be held on Lusaka, Zambia, from the next 13 to 16 November, where thousands of delegates from around the world are expected to converge, to celebrate achievements on all aspects of aquaculture development in Africa, but also to find solutions to some of the challenges hampering the growth of the sector, and to explore new opportunities.
According to the organization, more and more institutions and organizations continue to express their interest to attend AFRAQ2023 as witnessed from the recently concluded regional conferences on aquaculture in East Africa (Kenya) and West Africa (Nigeria) and also at WAS outreach events in Africa. Without going any further, Aller Aqua, company that has in Zambia one of the biggest aquafeeds plant based in Africa, became Gold Sponsor of AFRAQ2023.
The venue will be the Mulungushi International Convention Centre (MICC), regarded as the country’s ultimate Conferencing Centre, with world class facilities for meetings, exhibitions and other social activities.
As the organization reported, AFRAQ2023 will undoubtedly provide numerous educational, networking and collaboration opportunities. They also informed that sponsorship and exhibition opportunities are still available. In that sense, it’s possible to reach more information on the WAS website: www.was.org/meeting/code/AFRAQ23.
One of the top and fastest growing aquaculture producer countries
The conference offers a great opportunity for aquaculture researchers, practitioners, decision makers and other stakeholders to meet, network and discuss all aspects of aquaculture in Africa. Exhibitors from all over the globe are expected to exhibit their products in the amazing exhibition MICC.
As the well-attended First Aquaculture Africa Conference in Egypt in 2022 continue to reverberate throughout the aquaculture community in Africa and beyond, now Zambia has committed to host the second annual gathering of the WAS in Africa.
The country, being one of the top and fastest growing aquaculture producer countries in Africa has a lot of lessons to learn from, especially on addressing some of value chain dynamics affecting the industry today.
The country has recently launched its Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy 2022-2026, where the aquaculture sub-sector is expected to further contribute significantly to food and nutrition security, employment creation and foreign earnings through fish exports.
The country has stepped up its efforts to create an enabling environment for private sector investments and is implementing a number of strategic public-private sector project activities to enhance and strengthen the aquaculture value chains.
Consequently, a number of aquafarms – small, medium to large scale continue to flourish in the country.
Close bilateral relations
The organization informed that Zambia’s visa and entry formalities are relatively less complex, as most countries are now eligible to either obtain a visa-on-arrival or apply for an e-visa prior to travelling. Zambia also has close bilateral relations with several countries from the Asia-Pacific region, most of which have provided capacity building and industry development support to the aquaculture sub-sector.
An aquaculture tour is being organized to Siavonga, Lake Kariba – where a number of medium to large scale aquaculture enterprises are based, including one of the largest aquaculture businesses in Africa, the company Yalelo.
This is also where one of Aller Aqua’s biggest aquafeeds plant in Africa is based, a company that became Gold Sponsor of AFRAQ2023.
For those interested in sightseeing and adventures, visits to some famous touristic attractions in Lusaka and countrywide, such as the famous Victoria Falls, can also be arranged after the conference, has informed the organization.
