Press Releases

On February 8, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) signed a Record of Discussions with the Government of the Peoples’ Republic of Bangladesh for the Fisheries Livelihood Enhancement Project in the Costal Area of the Bay of Bengal, a technical cooperation project.

Since August 2017, due to the deteriorating situation in Rakhine State of Myanmar, it is estimated that as many as 900,000 people have taken refuge in Cox's Bazar district of Bangladesh, which borders Myanmar. The large influx of displaced people within a short period of time has caused a sharp rise in the cost of daily commodities, foodstuffs, and transportation within the district, as well as disruptions in the labor market, making life difficult for the displaced people and the host communities. JICA has been providing support to the displaced people and host communities in cooperation with the government of Bangladesh and international organizations.

This project will promote aquaculture, processing and fisheries resource management technologies, improvement of the local seafood value chain, creation of non-fishing income opportunities and improved nutrition for fishers in the host communities of the Cox's Bazar district, who are particularly affected by the influx of displaced people. Through these efforts, the project aims to improve the livelihood of fishers and thereby contribute to securing stable livelihoods in the host communities of the Cox's Bazar district. The project will also contribute to the SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) Goal 1 (End Poverty), Goal 8 (Job Satisfaction and Economic Growth), and Goal 14 (Protect the Richness of the Sea).

Details for the project are provided below.