€22m for mgt of resources in the region

THE management of fisheries and mineral resources in the Pacific region will benefit from €22 million (K82.92 million) that will be injected by the European Union (EU).
This will go into three projects under the 10th European Development Fund (EDF).
This follows the signing yesterday in Suva, Fiji, of the first three financing agreements under the regional indicative programme for the Pacific, financed through the 10th EDF.
The agreements were signed by Wiepke van der Goot, head of delegation of the European Union for the Pacific in Fiji and Tuiloma Neroni Slade, secretary general of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS) and the regional authorising officer.
The three projects include :
*  Scientific support for the management of coastal and oceanic fisheries in the Pacific Islands region (SCICOFish);
*  Deep sea minerals in the Pacific Islands region: legal framework and resource management; and
* Development of sustainable tuna fisheries in Pacific ACP countries phase two (DevFish )
A total of €95 million (K358 million) has been committed by the European Commission (EC) for 2008-13 to develop new approach to strengthening regional economic integration and sustainable  management of natural resources and the environment.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Slade thanked the EU for funding the three projects and its continued support to the Pacific region in implementing the Pacific Plan and the Forum Leaders determination of the regional development priorities.