Minister Adam calls on Africa to be champions of Blue Economy |29 January 2015

The Minister for Foreign Affairs Jean-Paul Adam has commended the African Union for embracing Africa’s Blue Economy as a key area of the transformative component of Agenda 2063 and called on his African counterparts to be “champions of the Blue Economy”.

Speaking at the 26th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council of the African Union on Tuesday, Minister Adam also announced the creation of the Blue Economy department of the government of Seychelles as a demonstrated commitment to developing this sector for the benefit of the Seychellois people.

“We have the opportunity to make better use of Africa's oceanic spaces. To harness their potential for the benefit of African nations and not just distant nations that covet our fishing or mineral resources,” said the Minister.

“We will need enhanced research and technology development to make this a reality and this is at the heart of Agenda 2063. Seychelles stands ready to work with the AU Commission to strengthen our African networks of oceanic research and development.”

In his intervention the minister stressed the importance of enhancing the African network of ports and maritime trade infrastructure as key to developing new industry and moving beyond the exportation of raw materials:

“Our ports must be part of our transformation from economies of extraction, to economies that are key mobilisers of value addition and enhanced wealth creation.”

In addition to being essential to diversifying African economies from being predominately extraction based, the minister added that the Seychelles government views the blue economy as a critical component of building climate resilient economic growth in Africa.

“Sustainable management of our oceans can help us create wealth while also better preparing us for the risks associated with climate change – such as food security challenges and extreme weather events.”

During his working visit to Addis Ababa, Minister Adam also took the opportunity to meet the African Union Commission chairperson, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma and presented Seychelles’ willingness to collaborate on establishing an African maritime centre of excellence for research and innovation. Further talks as to the nature of such a centre are ongoing.

The Seychelles delegation, led by Minister Adam, is currently in Addis Ababa attending the 24th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union. Other members of the delegation are the secretary of state for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Barry Faure; the permanent representative to the African Union, Ambassador Joseph Nourrice; and the principal counsellor in the Seychelles embassy in Addis Ababa, Amanda Bernstein.