African Ship-owners Association Summit 2018 - ‘Unlocking potentials of the blue economy’ |25 April 2018

The blue economy concept was very much at the centre of all statements at the opening ceremony of the African Ship-owners Association summit yesterday at Savoy Resort & Spa at Beau Vallon.

This common denominator was highlighted by the Minister for Tourism, Civil Aviation, Ports and Marine Maurice Loustau-Lalanne, the African Ship-owners Association (ASA) secretary general Funmi Folorunso amongst others.

Minister Loustau-Lalanne stated that every African country must take ownership of the oceans in a responsible and sustainable way. He added that the blue economy is an expensive business and it requires financial resources “but it will be the win-win partnership of all African states that will make the continent achieve success in this field”.

He was quick to suggest that the shipping activities should add a catalogue of annexed services to it, namely an African insurance covers for the continent’s shipments, as well as well-structured framework and pricing systems.

ASA secretary general Funmi Folorunso said the summit was a “dream come true” as the association has succeeded to gather 19 African countries, 10 ship-owners, eight maritime administrations and five port authorities of Africa in the Republic of Seychelles. She said this summit is the fittest opportunity to “unlock the potentials of the blue economy” and she was proud to be hosting this conference in a country that champions this concept.

Afrexim Bank representative Kanayo Awani went along the same line of thought by stating that there “is no other option for Africa to enhance its traffic and trade” and at the same time increasing its shipping fleet.

For his part, Dr Juvenal Shiundu, acting director of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), made an appeal to all African states to “harness the potentials of the seas and oceans in order to break down poverty”.

Mr Shiundu saluted the strong commitment of Seychelles to the blue economy project.

The two-day summit, which aims to promote African ownership and involvement of Africa’s shipping and maritime sectors, continues today. Seychelles is being represented by an important delegation from all shipping and maritime bodies.