The African Union has expressed its commitment to embracing and developing the Blue Economy concept as a vital part of Africa's future development to be outlined in the AU's Agenda 2063.
This pledge followed an intervention by Vice President Danny Faure at the 22nd Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia where he called on the continent to use its Agenda 2063 to "break the mould" of African development and recognise the potential of Africa's Blue Economy:
"The Blue Economy, encapsulating all of the potential of our oceanic resources, offers us a platform for Africa's transformation both in terms of Agenda 2063 and in terms of the post 2015 Development Agenda and the sustainable development goals.
"The majority of world trade is by sea. The majority of the world's oil shipments are by sea. There is no food security without a sustainable ocean. The majority of new mineral resources will not be found on land but in the sea. The Blue Economy is Africa's future."
In responding to the Vice President, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, announced that an entire chapter of the Agenda 2063 would be dedicated to the Blue Economy concept.
Dr Dlamini-Zuma, who was represented at the Seychelles Blue Economy Summit in Abu Dhabi earlier this month, added that exploiting and developing the full potential of Africa's oceanic resources, particularly as Africa's oceanic mass is far greater than its land mass, was a vital part of its future.
The Vice President is currently leading the Seychelles Delegation to the African Union Summit being held from the 30th-31st January the theme of which is the Year of Agriculture and Food Security for Africa.
Speaking to the theme of the Summit, the Vice President said he was pleased at its selection, as it is also an issue of great importance to Africa's islands that also supports the need for greater maritime connectivity on the continent:
"Food security is a critical issue for islands as we are simultaneously limited in the amount of food we can produce ourselves due to our small size, while also being isolated from key markets in terms of imports."
The Vice President is also accompanied by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Jean-Paul Adam, the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Barry Faure, the Seychelles Permanent Representative to the African Union and Resident Ambassador to Ethiopia, Ambassador Joseph Nourrice, and Principal Secretary for the Vice-President's Secretariat, Mrs. Jeanne Siméon.
Editors Notes:
• Agenda 2063 is both a Vision and an Action Plan. It is a call for action to all segments of African society to work together to build a prosperous and united Africa based on shared values and a common destiny.
In their 50th Anniversary Solemn Declaration, the Heads of State and Government of the African Union (AU), while acknowledging past successes and challenges, rededicated themselves to the continent's accelerated development and technological progress. They laid down vision and eight ideals to serve as pillars for the continent in the foreseeable future, which Agenda 2063 will translate into concrete objectives, milestones, goals, targets and actions/measures. Agenda 2063 strives to enable Africa remain focused and committed to the ideals envisaged in the context of a rapidly changing world
http://agenda2063.au.int/en/about
• Dr. Dlamini-Zuma undertook an official visit to Seychelles in her capacity as Chairperson of the African Union Commission in June 2013 as a special guest of the National Day celebrations during which she called on President Michel and addressed the National Assembly during a special session.