Why Africa Blue Economy?
In October 2013, I had left my job in Washington DC as head of World Bank communications in Africa and was engaged in activities to strengthen media on the continent as Chief Executive Officer of the African Media Initiative (AMI). In those and other positions I have held, including running the External Affairs and Communications department of the African Development Bank, I had never quite understood or fully appreciated the importance of Africa’s engagement on matters concerning the seas, oceans, lakes and rivers of the world. And then I attended the Maritime Indaba in Johannesburg, South Africa.
The Indaba was an amazing eye-opener, an experience that took me into a whole new world of discovery and learning that I had always under-estimated. I learned a simple fact: these waterways constitute the most important transportation routes for regional and global commerce, and, along with all that make up the Blue Economy, are central to economic activity, development and growth worldwide. Understanding this fact and designing policies that take it into account will certainly change the future of national economies and of Africa’s international trade posture. Does the leadership of the continent get this?
Africa has vast untapped maritime resources, making full engagement in the Blue Economy a strategic imperative. With over 90% of Africa’s imports and exports transported by sea, leveraging maritime routes, improving port infrastructure, logistics, and maritime governance can enhance trade competitiveness, reduce costs, and increase regional integration and competitiveness in global markets.
The Blue Economy—spanning fisheries, aquaculture, tourism, shipping, and marine biotechnology—offers a sustainable path to economic diversification and GDP growth. Sustainable fisheries and aquaculture can bridge the protein gap, reduce dependence on imports, and enhance food security. The sector can generate millions of jobs, particularly in coastal and island nations, by expanding industries like fishing, shipping, tourism, and marine biotechnology.
Based on what I have learnt in the many years since the Johannesburg Indaba, I thought I should spur action within the media and various communications platforms as a way of raising public consciousness of this critically important sector.
By embracing the Blue Economy, Africa can secure long-term economic resilience, environmental sustainability, and inclusive development. The challenge lies in governance, investment, and capacity-building to unlock its full potential. Africa loses billions annually to illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, as well as piracy and illicit trade. By simply strengthening maritime security and governance, for example, one can reclaim these resources for national development.
Engaging in the Blue Economy aligns with sustainable development goals by promoting responsible use of marine resources and supporting long-term economic growth. The Blue Economy offers a pathway to diversify economies beyond traditional sectors like agriculture and mining, reducing vulnerability to market fluctuations.
By developing sectors such as fisheries, marine-based tourism, and renewable energy, the Blue Economy as noted can significantly contribute to job creation, reduce the expatriation of young Africans to “greener pastures” outside the continent, and help lift communities out of poverty. My hope is to have the media in Africa bring the point home to citizens and governments everywhere.
The objective would be to involve a wide range of stakeholders, including government agencies, private sector, and local communities, to build consensus and ensure that development plans align with local needs and priorities. By fully engaging in the Blue Economy, Africa can unlock substantial economic, social, and environmental benefits, paving the way for a sustainable and prosperous future.
It is with this vision in mind that I launched Africa Blue Economy, a media platform dedicated to the blue economy across the continent.
Our ambition is to help the sector thrive through our various publications: news updates, expert analysis, insights into initiatives, and profiles of key players in Africa’s blue economy, among others.
Our team is made up of passionate journalists and blue economy specialists who are deeply committed to the development of Africa as a whole.
Blue Economy in Africa, A Source of Prosperity!
Eric Chinje – Journalist, International Communication and Development Media Expert