The Sustainable Blue Economy conference which will be hosted in Kenya is expected to provide a unique opportunity for the government and the private sector to explore on how to curb exploitation of marine resources oceans, inland lakes and rivers.
Seychelles President Danny Faure and Namibia’s Hage Geingob are among foreign leaders that have confirmed participation at Kenya’s inaugural Sustainable Blue Economy Conference set to kick off on November 26.
According to the Director General of the conference’s Organizing Committee, Ambassador Ben Ogutu, about ten foreign leaders and over fifty ministers have confirmed attendance of the three-day event to be held at the Kenyatta International Convention Center.
Others are Uganda’s Yoweri Museveni, Congo’s Sassou Nguesso, Somali’s Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, and Fiji’s Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama.
“These matters of blue economy have got to have political goodwill and commitment to drive the process forward. The attendance of these leaders is actually a very strong statement from the leaders,” he said.
Ogutu told editors on Thursday that experts and scientists will also be attending the conference which Kenya will be co-hosting with Canada and Japan.
“We’ve invited luminaries in terms of speakers and experts including the Under-Secretary-General and Special Envoy for the Oceans on the United Nations, the Secretary-General of the African Ship-owners Association, as well as Professors,” he indicated.
Ogutu said a number of side events have been lined up including in the areas of climate and sustainable energy.
Governors of sea facing cities are also expected to attend the Sustainable Blue Economy Conference.
Canada and Japan have pledged funding for the conference to the tune of Sh 300 million each, Canada’s support entailing a Sh 100 million non-monetary contribution.
Kenya will be seeking new partnerships in harnessing the potential of its blue economy while addressing emerging challenges including development of a comprehensive response to ocean health during the blue economy conference.
Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Ambassador Macharia Kamau recently announced most of the Ksh 800 million budget required to host the conference had been raised after Japan joined Canada as a co-host alongside Kenya.
“Our conference is looking at the challenge of creating greater prosperity, the challenge of fighting poverty, the challenge of protecting the planet as we move forward and how we can bring these three together,” he said.
South Africa, the United Kingdom, Norway, Portugal and Fiji have enlisted their support for the conference as co-sponsors.