Kenya proud to host blue conference

The government is this week the proud convenor of a first global, Sustainable Blue Economy Conference.

Canada and Japan embraced this initiative by an upcoming African nation. The two are co-hosts of the conference.

Great ideas — as has been said before — are sure to attract the imagination of many; including the financial support that conference has secured from many sponsors, even at national level.

Kenyatta International Convention Centre gates will be flung open on November 26.

Unlike many other international summits held in Kenya in recent years, this one is actually nearly 10 summits in one.

THEMATIC SESSIONS

These are spread across Nairobi and include a historic leadership commitments segment; business and private sector forum; governors and mayors convention; and a star-studded, science and research symposium at the University of Nairobi.

There shall also be signature thematic sessions devoted to deliberations on the productivity and sustainability pillars of the blue economy.

Other major segments of the conference are a civil society forum, an international diaspora side event as well as a youth side summit.

And there is more, notably a business and technology exhibition; a national museum and blue economy archaeology exhibition and a blue economy film and photography festival to be coordinated and managed by the Kenya Film Classification Board.

PRIVATE SECTOR

 As of the time of writing this piece, at least 10 heads of state and government, governors and mayors from all parts of the world, heads of international organisations, plus close to 17,000 participants representing  185 countries had registered for the conference.

Close to 5,000 representatives of business, the private sector and investors of all shades had also expressed interest.

But perhaps the big question on many people’s lips is; What really, is blue economy and how does it differ from the traditional economies we know?

Moroever, it has been asked of us: Will the blue economy make life any different and more tolerable for ordinary people in Kenya, Africa and developing island nations like the Seychelles, Vanuatu, Kiribati, Mauritius, Samoa and Fiji?

POVERTY ERADICATION

It is this question that probably sums up what the Kenya Private Sector Alliance asked us recently and we have attempted to answer it.

In a nutshell, oceans, lakes, seas and rivers contribute to poverty eradication by creating sustainable livelihoods and decent work.

They provide food and minerals, generate oxygen, absorb greenhouse gases and mitigate the impacts of climate change.

They determine weather patterns and temperatures and serve as highways for seaborne international trade.

Blue economy is a concept derived from all these and seeks to promote economic growth, encourage social inclusion, improve livelihoods while also ensuring environmental sustainability.

MARITIME TRANSPORT

That was our rehashed attempt at unpacking the question of the blue economy.

We have also tried to explain that there are diverse components to the blue economy, including established traditional ocean industries such as fisheries, tourism and maritime transport and ship building, but also new and emerging activities like offshore renewable energy, aquaculture, seabed extractive activities and marine biotechnology.

All these facets of the blue economy can of course be expressed differently.

There are directly implicated industries such as sea-food harvesting and pharmaceutical products while others are fresh water generation and extraction of energy sources; minerals from deep sea and river mining as well as industries associated with waste disposal for land-based sectors.

GAS EMISSION

Those in climate change also know about the role of these resources in carbon sequestration that reduces greenhouse gas emission into the atmosphere; itself a key issue in climate change discussions today.

In brief, the Nairobi conference is an opportunity for nations to work together for the future of mankind.

A key agenda is to work together in formulating solutions that keep marine and aquatic resources safe.

There is a need to forge collaborative partnerships and alliances that will lead to new regulations, policies as well as scientific research that contribute to new knowledge about the blue economy.

TRANSFORM KENYA

It is our hope and prayer that the conference will trigger the critical leadership commitments that will truly transform Kenya and the global community for generations. The clarion call is for a prosperous and inclusive society.

In hosting the conference, Kenya will have played its part in providing a chance to re-energise the world around the potential of the blue economy.

Mr  Kamau is the Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and is charged with the responsibility of coordinating the preparations and hosting of the 2018 Blue Economy Conference