BY MENGISTEAB TESHOME
According to Blue economy strategy of Africa and ambitions in the continent, it covers aquatic and marine spaces, including oceans, seas, coasts, lakes, rivers, and underground water, and it comprises a range of productive sectors, such as fisheries, aquaculture, tourism, transportation, shipbuilding, energy, bio prospecting, and underwater mining as well as related activities.
The Blue Economy concept includes recognition that the productivity of healthy fresh water and ocean ecosystems is a pathway for aquatic and maritime-based economies and can ensure that islands and other coastal countries, as well as land-locked States, benefit from their resources.
It also requires an integrated, holistic and participatory approach that includes sustainable use and management of Blue Economy resources for societal progress in a diversified Africa. The Blue Economy framework is therefore, intended to move from the current sectoral approach to a multispectral, integrated, and participatory approach at multiple levels.
African Development Bank Group president, Dr. Akinwumi A. Adesina once said that despite water covering 70 percent of the Earth’s surface, it is a lot less abundant than it seems, especially in places like Sub-Saharan Africa. Poverty, compounded with rapid population growth and rural-urban migration, have rendered Sub-Saharan Africa the world’s poorest and least developed region. Water scarcity is predicted to reach dangerously high levels by 2025. That is only three years from now so that urgent action is required to turn the tide in Africa’s favor.
As Africa’s premier financing institution, the African Development Bank (AfDB) is working closely with the United Nations and a range of other partners to achieve SDG 6 by sustaining water resources, delivering services, and building resilience.
Various documents confirm that Africa’s coastal sector remains largely underdeveloped, under-utilized, and poorly governed, which has enabled other forces from outside the continent to benefit more from it, than its citizens, though there are efforts underway in various parts of the continent. On a recent event underway, Ethiopia and Kenya exchanged experiences on Blue economy and ways to expedite the sector for the common good. On the occasion, Kenyan Blue Economy Sector coordinator Dr. Francis O. Owino said that Kenya is keen to work with Ethiopia to sustainably utilize the potential of blue economy to expedite the national development of the two countries.
The blue economy is the sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods, via creating jobs while preserving the health of oceans’ ecosystem, according to the World Bank.
Studies indicate that Africa is rich in oceans and sea resources that can be utilized to accelerating the economies of the continent. In this regard, Kenya is one of the Eastern African countries that have better experiences in utilizing the sector particularly for tourism.
Kenyan Blue Economy Sector coordinator Dr. Francis O. Owino further noted that his country is willing to work in collaboration with Ethiopia and other countries with a view to utilize the resources in oceans and seas for economic development.
Noting that Ethiopia is endowed with various historical and natural tourism attractions, Owino stated the efforts being carried out by the government of Ethiopia to expand tourism destinations would help to enhance the Blue Economy sector.
According to information obtained from Ministry of Transport and Logistics, activities are being carried out by Ethiopia to utilize the blue economic sector. Even if Ethiopia is a landlocked country, it is taking advantage of the blue economy as a good opportunity in line with the country’s transport and logistics policy as well as other strategies.
Blue Economy is also among the main strategic focus areas of Ethiopia’s ten-year economic perspective plan. The blue economy is a potential driver of growth, development and most importantly regional integration, IGAD Executive Secretary Workneh Gebeyehu said recently.
IGAD Secretariat, Environment Protection and Agriculture Program Manager and Blue Economy Coordinator Eshete Dejen (PhD) told The Ethiopian Herald that as the region is the water tower of Africa it embraces the leading Blue Economy potentials in the continent.
“Having the Blue Economy strategy enables member states to design a collective policy towards harnessing the untapped water-related potentials such as water transport, fisheries, port development, and water tourism, among others,” he underscored.
As to him, the strategy will have a fundamental role in creating a sustainable environmental protection system beyond its significant socio-economic benefits. More importantly, the strategy sought to harness the region’s untapped water potentials by creating an effective channel for the Blue Economy sector, he said.
For her part, Ethiopian Focal Person of Blue Economy at the IGAD Anene Kejela said that the Blue Economy strategy is an important framework for developing and utilizing Trans boundary Rivers and the region’s sea resources peacefully and commonly.
“The endorsement of the Blue Economy strategy contributes a lot to facilitate Ethiopia’s port service demand, shipping, and transport access as well as exporting hydropower to the member countries,” she said. Blue Economy contributes five percent of the global economy’s GDP. However, it contributes only 0.49 percent to Ethiopia’s GDP, according to her.
Therefore, Ethiopia expects the effective implementation of the strategy towards expediting its economic development and creating numerous job opportunities in the Blue Economy sector.
Getnet Nigussie, State Minister of Tourism and Advisor to Tourism and Infrastructure Development, for his part said that the Blue Economy concept includes recognition that the productivity and protection of the resources and make sure the healthy freshwater and ocean ecosystems and beyond is a pathway for aquatic and maritime- based economies and can ensure that islands and other coastal countries, as well as land-locked States benefit from their resources.
The commitment of the incumbent to build blue economy is progressive; though more practical activities are required, the achievements are promising. The river bank development efforts in the capital and other cities along with parks are one point we could mention. The wonchi lake development and the Gorgora and other landmarks development could be considered as the show case of the government effort in turning the page for blue economy to grow, he noted.
It is to be recalled that the African Union (AU) has identified Blue Economy development as a priority goal towards achieving the aspiration of “a prosperous Africa based on inclusive growth and sustainable development within the context of the AU Agenda 2063.”
The Ethiopian Herald April 17/2022
