6

6 | NEWSFOCUS Verbatim October 30, 2018 www.mygov.go.ke Conference excellent platform to Nancy Wakarima Karigithu, the Principal Secretary in the State Department for Shipping and Maritime Affairs in the Ministry of Transport, Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development, has had a long association with the maritime and shipping industry in Kenya and internationally. As such, the PS will be very much at home as Nairobi hosts the Global Sustainable Blue Economy Conference (SBEC) from 26th to 28th November at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC). She spoke to the outgoing director of the Government Advertising Agency (GAA) Ngari Gituku on the first global conference of its kind Please explain, what exactly is the ‘Blue Economy? The Blue Economy means the use of the sea and its resources for economic development or put simply any economic activity in the maritime environment in a sustainable manner. It is the use of ocean resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods and jobs, while preserving the health of ocean ecosystem. The concept was originally pioneered by Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in the run up to the Rio+20 World Summit in June 2012. When the United Nations set the Green Economy as the theme for the Rio+20, the Pacific SIDS started promoting a “Blue Economy,” focusing on the marine environment, prominently featuring the oceans, which account for almost 71 percent of the earth’s surface. The concept has since gained momentum across the board, and following a series of international initiatives, the BE now forms part of the Sustainable Development Goals adopted in New York in September 2015. The African BE has extended the concept to cover aquatic and marine spaces, including oceans, seas, coasts, lakes, rivers, and underground water. The maritime domain, which is the subject of the Blue Economy, comprises a range of productive sectors, such as fisheries, aquaculture, tourism, maritime transport & logistics, shipbuilding and repair, shipping, energy, bioprospecting, seabed mining and related activities. Why has Kenya, taken the lead to host the high level ‘Blue Economy Conference?’ Why not Kenya? First of all Kenya has had a long interesting association with seas and ocean governance, with the late Professor Frank Njenga, widely acknowledged as the father of the maritime concept of Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). The EEZ is a zone of the sea prescribed by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, over which a coastal state has special rights regarding the exploration and use of marine resources, including fisheries as well as energy production from water and wind. The Government has recently embarked on various actions to influence policy changes with a view to making Kenya a maritime nation. In recognition of the sector’s potential, the BE has been recognised as the eighth priority sector under the Economic Pillar of Vision 2030. The Government has also shown its commitment to the mitigation and reversal of climate change from shipping. In this regard Kenya hosts the Maritime Technology Cooperation Centre for the African Region (MTCC-Africa), one of only five such global institutions, set up for the purpose of capacity building for climate change mitigation in the maritime and shipping industry. This reflects our commitment to support research and capacity building. Finally, the decision to host the conference followed the announcement by the President during the High-Level Segment of the Third United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-3) held in Nairobi in December 2017. The Conference provides an excellent platform for communication to the internal as well as international community of the country’s readiness and commitment to blue growth. In what specific ways do you see the conference contributing to job creation and economic growth generally, in Kenya and Africa? While maritime transport accounts for over 90% of its international trade and is thus a great contributor to the continents collective GDP, the maritime sector has remained one of the least understood and unexploited sectors in the African economy so far. Investment in capacity building for the maritime sector must be the first step toward increasing the output value of the industry. This means developing manpower, starting with educating/motivating the African youth to get into the study of the maritime domain. Most youth have a limited view of the opportunities available in the sector mostly due to their exposure – to what is mainly traditional fishing industry. Because most fishermen are at subsistence level this remains a field that does not inspire any prospect for economic growth and therefore holds no interest to them. The conference will provide an excellent platform to sensitise such youth into all the possible careers and job opportunities the sector holds. For these and other tasks, there is need for manpower, including scientists and researchers, as well as entrepreneurs with a “BE” mindset. This will in time prepare the youth for a better future and their integration into beneficial causes and projects that make them a cornerstone of the economy instead of leaving them vulnerable to radical ideas that would only escalate conflict in the region. How have African countries failed to seize BE opportunities? Historically African economies have put emphasis on exploiting only one resource of the sea, that is shipping, while ignoring other resources of the sea as economic drivers. Yet Africa as an island continent is endowed with a highly productive ocean mass teeming with abundant and diverse maritime resources. Indeed, out of 55 African countries, 38 are coastal states. The implication of this endowment is that, when African oceans are fully exploited, they will create a major platform for wealth generation, and provide a solid basis of sustainable development of the continent. But while much of Africa’s natural resources are found along or near the coast, the story of the continent’s relationship with the oceans remains a tragic one who’s most dominant aspect is images of the hundreds drowning as they try to reach Europe in overcrowded boats. In recent years however, a recognition of this economic resource idleness has emerged and with it a new phase in efforts by the African Union (AU) to catalyze the development of the continent’s maritime trade and BE as well as strengthen African integration and unity through the formulation of these key policy documents: • the African Maritime Transport Charter; • the Africa Integrated Maritime Strategy (2050 AIM Strategy); • the African Union 2063 Agenda “The Africa We Want” and “African Decade of the Seas”, which interfaces with the UN Agenda 2030 on Sustainable Development; and • the Policy Framework and Reform Strategy for Fisheries and Aquaculture in Africa. These policy documents are aimed at maximising regional and international trade through partnerships and cooperation. The successful implementation of these agendas shall propel Africa to a higher development status. The Conference is greatly aligned towards the realization of these aspirations. What specific measures or steps is the Government to advance during the conference to canvass on the About the conference The Global Sustainable Blue Economy Conference (SBEC) will be held in Nairobi from 26th to 28th November, 2018 at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC). This will be the first global conference of its kind and is predicated on the two conceptual pillars of: (1) Sustainability, Climate Change and Controlling Pollution; and (2) Production, Accelerated Economic Growth, Jobs and Poverty Alleviation. The theme of the Conference will be The Blue Economy and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development with the following sub-themes whose concept notes have been finalised, approved and uploaded on the conference website. The sub-themes will be discussed in breakaway sessions under the titles: 1. Smart Shipping, Ports, Transportation and Global Connectivity 2. Employment, Job Creation, Poverty Eradication and the Blue Economy 3. Cities, Tourism, Resilient Coasts and Infrastructure 4. Sustainable Energy and Mineral Resources, and Innovative Industries 5. Ending Hunger, Securing Food Supplies and Promoting Good Health and Sustainable Fisheries 6. Management and Sustaining of Marine Life, Conservation and Sustainable Economic Activities 7. Climate Action, Agriculture, Waste Management, and Pollution-Free Aquatic Ecosystems 8. Maritime, Safety, Security and Regulatory Enforcement 9. People, Culture, Communities and Societies: The Inclusive Blue Economy

7 Publizr Home