Five major projects are to be funded by the MCC. This involves fruit-tree growing (USD300.9 Mn), small-scale fisheries (USD116.17 Mn), artisan and Fez medina (USD111.87 Mn), financial services (USD 46.20 Mn), and enterprise support (USD33.85 Mn). The Compact also includes approximately USD 88.5Mn for monitoring, evaluation, program administration and oversight.

The implementation of the projects falling within the framework of "the Millennium challenge compact" will allow increase the growth rate by 1.1% and reduce poverty rate by 20% in the targeted regions, by the end of 2012, said Moroccan Prime Minister, Driss Jettou on Friday, Aug 31, 2007.

In Yemen, more than YR 32.3bn (US$ 162.33mn EUR 117.48mn) has been budgeted under the 2006-2010 third poverty reduction plan as proposed investments in the fisheries industry.

FAO and the World Health Organization (WHO) are urging all countries to strengthen their food safety systems and to be far more vigilant with food producers and traders. Recent food safety incidents, like the discovery of the industrial chemical melamine in animal and fish feed, or the unauthorized use of certain veterinary drugs in intensive aquaculture, can affect health and often lead to rejections of food products in international trade.

The European Commission has adopted on July 24th, a Commission Regulation increasing the ceiling of the so-called 'de minimis' aid to the fisheries sector. De minimis aid is aid deemed not to distort competition. Under the new Regulation, the ceiling will be set at €30,000 per three-year period, per beneficiary, on condition that the total amount of such aid represents less than 2.5% of the annual national fisheries output. None of this aid may be used to purchase or construct new vessels or to enhance existing fleet capacity. Member States will have to record all relevant information to show that these conditions have been respected.