All is set for the third edition of the Blue Economy Conference (BEC2024) to be held on July 4-5 at the Julius Nyerere International Convention Center in Tanzania.
Themed, ‘Navigating the Future: Integrating Maritime Safety and Security, Climate Change Actions and Technological Advancements for Blue Economy’, the conference organised by the Dar es Salaam Maritime Institute (DMI), Tanzania in collaboration with the Regional Maritime University (RMU) in Accra.
It also forms part so efforts to bring together international stakeholders to share ideas on promoting the blue economy to lead development across the continent, by tapping into prospects within the industry.
Annually, the blue economy has an estimated turnover of between US$3 and US$6billion. This includes employment, ecosystem services provided by the ocean and cultural services. It is also estimated that fisheries and aquaculture contributes US$100 billion per year and about 260 million jobs to the global economy, according to United Nations (UN) Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) report.
Consequently, Africa through the conference, would be looking forward to taking advantage of the huge potentials to foster development.
The conference would also focus on establishing a platform for capacity building and networking among stakeholders, fostering the blue economy in alignment with maritime safety and security, climate change considerations and technological advancements as outlined in the relevant Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
It would also focus on other areas including sustainable exploitation and utilisation of blue economy resources, ship seaworthiness and on board-ship competency challenges, business models for the blue economy, women in maritime sector, fishing industry and climate action policy and environmental protection.
There would also be discussions on Artificial Intelligence (AI) in maritime practices and the blue economy, renewable energy solutions for maritime transportation, information systems in maritime education and training, logistics, shipping and supply chains for the blue economy, climate-responsive maritime practices and coastal management, blue economy governance, law and policy as well as coastal and marine tourism development.
Keynote speaker for the event would be the Deputy Minister for Transport, Tanzania, David Mwakiposa Kihenzile, with other speakers including Secretary General, Maritime Organisation of West and Central Africa (MOWCA), Dr. Paul Ikongshul Adalikwu; Maritime Law and Management Consultant, Dr. Kofi Mbia; Special Advisor for Maritime and Blue Economy, Amb. Nancy Karigithu; Executive Director, Sierra Leone Maritime Authority Paul Sobba Massaquoi; and Climate Specialist, Pa Ousman Jarju.
The DMI had held the Blue Economy Conference for the past two years and but currently partnering with the RMU to hold the third edition, following a recent Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two giants in maritime education and training..
The Ag. Vice Chancellor of the RMU, Dr. Jethro W. Brooks Jr said, both institutions have committed to transforming economies across Africa by providing quality training and education that would ensure that young people were equipped and positioned to drive the maritime sector. “We look forward for an insightful conference that would support the transformation of the African continent through the maritime industry,” he stated.
