• Ocean Governance & Blue Economy

Expert Q&A: What’s Africa’s blue economy potential?

  • The Africa-Europe Foundation

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Africa’s oceans, lakes and rivers are the “new frontier of the African renaissance," according to the United Nations. It is believed that the continent's abundant marine resources offer a path to economic transformation and social development with the blue economy listed as the foremost contributor to growth in Agenda 2063.

Ahead of the UN Ocean Conference set to take place in Lisbon, Portugal from 27 June to 1 July 2022, we reached out to Nancy W. Karigithu, the Principal Secretary at the State Department for Maritime and Shipping Affairs in Kenya, for an official response.

Below she comments on the strategic importance of Africa’s marine resources and the steps to unlocking its full blue economy potential.

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The Africa-Europe Foundation

The Africa-Europe Foundation (AEF) is the only organisation of its kind shared equally by stakeholders from both Africa and Europe. It is an independent platform for multi-stakeholder dialogue, frank debate and strategic analysis bringing together experts and leaders from diverse organisation settings (civil society, policymaking, private sector, academia), to strengthen the partnership between Africa and Europe. Our multi-stakeholder Strategy and Working Groups offer a safe space for exchange on critical, sometimes contentious issues between Africa and Europe and form the backbone of AEF’s work to catalyse innovative partnerships and unlock untapped areas of cross-continental cooperation, from Green Industrialisation to the future of health and the reform of financial systems to climate, energy, agri-food systems, blue economy, youth, Digital and AI.