The value of Africa’s blue economy is projected to be $405 billion by 2030 and, as Ambassador Nancy Karigithu, Special Envoy & Advisor for Maritime and Blue Economy in the Executive Office of the President of Kenya, told delegates at Maritime Week Africa this week, an integrated and cross-sector maritime policy approach will be the most effective way of driving not only this sector’s development, but enabling ‘all the sub-sectors of the economy, at national and continental levels, to contribute to economic growth.’
In her keynote speech at the opening of Maritime Week Africa, taking place for the first time in Mauritius, Ambassador Karigithu said that the underlying value of the African maritime industry is estimated at $1 trillion, while the maritime zones under Africa’s jurisdiction cover some 13 million square kilometres – representing a major potential for the continent’s economic growth.
She highlighted that China, India and Africa collectively account for 52% of the world’s 6.7 billion population.
‘Their citizenry will dramatically influence the direction and nature of traded goods. Essential commodities (energy commodities such as oil & gas; foodstuffs such as grains; and even water) will be shipped in unprecedented volumes just to supply basic demand,’ she said, adding that ‘in this global context shipping must increasingly become a vital part of any government’s policies governing energy, food and water security.’
Given Africa’s strategic position at the crossroads of major shipping routes linking Asia, Europe, the Americas, and the Middle East, Ambassador Karigithu said the continent ‘presents major advantages in bunkering and maritime logistics’ and also provides a key opportunity for African countries ‘to accelerate development of their ports and position them as important players in the global trade.’
Turning to the energy transition, the Ambassador said that decarbonisation using Africa’s ‘unmatched renewable energy potential’ also provides a major opportunity to combine industrialisation and decarbonised growth.
In conclusion, she emphasised that steps that could be undertaken to enable African countries to develop their full potential in the maritime sectors include: undertaking accelerated capacity building through infrastructure development, maritime education and training; pooling regional maritime assets, expertise and resources; and developing an integrated maritime development outlook.
‘[We must realise] that no single country can resolve maritime challenges on its own – [we must] collaborate and build partnerships and cooperate for common goals,’ she emphasised.
