WestMED Libya announces the country’s first Maritime Cluster at the Omar Al-Mukhtar University, during ‘Blue Economy Research & Innovation’ workshop
Today on September 29 2024, at the Faculty of Agriculture Hall, the Omar Al-Mukhtar University hosted a workshop titled “advancing the Blue Economy in Libya through Research and innovation” with the support of the Al-Mukhtar Center for Research, Consulting, Educational Services, and Training.
This workshop was organized in collaboration with the WestMED Initiative for the Development of the Blue Economy and the Marine Biology Organization.
The workshop was led by Dr. Masauda Abouarousha, the Libyan National Coordinator for the initiative, and was attended by prominent figures, including the Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, the Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture, and a number of faculty members from the Faculties of Science, Agriculture, and Natural Resources. Additionally, the event saw the presence of the Director of the International Cooperation Department at the University and the Director of the Environmental Sanitation Department at the Ministry of Environment.
The event also included notable participation via online platforms from:
- Eng. Ali Al-Shaqrouni, Head of the Libyan Maritime Cluster
- Captain Ezzedine Kacem, Head of the Tunisian Maritime Cluster
- Mr. Leonardo Manzari, Italian WestMED National Hub
During the workshop, the formation of the Libyan Maritime Cluster was officially announced. This entity will serve as an umbrella organization uniting all stakeholders engaged in various maritime activities related to the blue economy, with a particular focus on research and innovation (see presentation)
The workshop played a pivotal role in engaging researchers at Omar Al-Mukhtar University with international research platforms specializing in the blue economy, enhancing Libya’s participation in regional and global initiatives.
There will be a series of seminars, workshops and focus groups emanating from this workshop.
At the conclusion, several recommendations were made:
1- Urging Omar Al-Mukhtar University to partner with the steering committee initiative represented by the Al-Mukhtar Centre for Research, Consultancy, Scientific Services and Training, as Libya is a member of this initiative.
2- Establishing a unit within the Mukhtar Centre for Blue Economy, which is concerned with spreading awareness of the importance of the blue economy through seminars, workshops and meetings as an alternative economy.
3- Holding qualification courses for interested parties and stakeholders and preparing human cadres capable of engaging in this field.
4- The Mukhtar Centre adopts the idea of establishing a special board for research in the various fields of the blue economy and distributing it to colleges as houses of expertise containing academics, researchers and interested parties, and then selecting distinguished research proposals and through the Centre and its agreements, financial support is provided for these researches through donor agencies and organisations for funding.
With this workshop, the path is paved for more strategic partnerships and capacity-building initiatives, ensuring that Libya contributes actively to the regional blue economy agenda.
Download the analysis framework paper detailing the Libyan Maritime Cluster
For more information contact Masauda Abuarosha: libya@westmed-initiative.ec.europa.eu
