Heba Press – Rabat
Yesterday, Tuesday October 8, 2024 in Tangier, Mohamed Seddiqi, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Rural Development, Water and Forests, chaired the third session of the high-level conference on the Blue Belt Initiative – BBI .
The city of Tangier hosts the activities of the African Oceans Week, which includes a series of meetings and workshops bringing together ministers of maritime fisheries and the blue economy and senior officials to discuss the issues and challenges of growth economic impact of oceans. African continent.
This conference saw a large participation from 32 countries, including 16 delegations led by ministers concerned with maritime fisheries and the blue economy, and brought together personalities such as Josefa Lionel Correa Sako, commissioner in charge of agriculture, development rural, blue economy and sustainable environment at the African Union Commission, and Omar Hilal, Ambassador Permanent Representative of Morocco to the United Nations, in addition to an elite group composed of senior officials from various countries and international organizations.
Following a preparatory meeting of experts held yesterday, the conference focused on examining a central topic titled “Needs and solutions to promote food development and provide employment opportunities in the field of blue economy in Africa”.
In his opening speech, the minister underlined the great importance that the theme of the conference represents for the African continent, emphasizing the need to make the blue economy a real engine of economic and social development, in accordance with the high vision Royal of His Majesty King Mohammed. VI, may God help him, to strengthen cooperation between African countries overlooking the Atlantic Ocean and to develop the maritime fishing sector towards a sustainable blue economy.
In light of the challenges related to food security and job creation, he explained that strengthening the maritime fishing sector and accelerating its development for sustainable growth constitutes an absolute priority to guarantee food sovereignty. of Africa.
In the same context, the minister stressed the importance of strengthening South-South cooperation, citing the Blue Belt Initiative (BBI) launched by Morocco in 2016 during the COP22 Conference of the Parties, considering it as a new model of cooperation and a participatory platform to consolidate responsible practices in the field of exploitation of marine resources.
The Ministerial Conference resulted in the Tangier Declaration, which embodies the commitment of African countries to work hand in hand for a future in which the blue economy contributes to the prosperity of the continent, alongside the preservation of marine ecosystems.
Participants recognized the importance of the biosphere in ensuring food security, providing employment opportunities and boosting economic development in Africa, calling for sustainable management of marine resources and the integration of marine fisheries priorities and aquaculture in national development plans.
The declaration highlights the need for concerted efforts to address the challenges that threaten the oceans, such as overfishing, pollution and poor governance, with the commitment of African countries to strengthen scientific research, innovation and systems of monitoring of the oceans with the aim of achieving sustainable ocean management. marine resources.
The declaration also calls for active African participation in the “Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development” and “African Union Agenda 2063”.
In conclusion, the Tangier Declaration calls for the strengthening of regional cooperation to face the challenges of the blue economy in Africa, recommending the creation of a permanent platform for the Blue Belt Initiative responsible for facilitating dialogue, mobilizing resources and develop a common roadmap to ensure ocean sustainability and provide employment opportunities in the blue sector.
With 31 member countries, the Blue Belt Initiative is an essential tool for strengthening South-South cooperation. The best proof of this is perhaps the presentation by the Minister of the official results of the scientific campaigns carried out by the National Institute of Fisheries Research in Benin and Liberia during the period between January and March 2024, which highlights the great potential offered by South-South cooperation within the framework of the Blue Belt Initiative.
In their speeches, the ministers and representatives of the participating countries expressed their sincere thanks and gratitude to His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God grant him victory, for his commitment to supporting the African continent by launching various initiatives that strengthen cooperation South-South and triangular cooperation, particularly in the sectors of maritime fishing, aquaculture and the blue economy in general.
The final declaration of the African Ministerial Conference on the Blue Economy in Tangier affirmed Morocco’s firm desire to work alongside African countries to make the blue economy a lever for sustainable development, a generator of global growth and shared prosperity for the continent. and called on all parties concerned to mobilize and translate the commitments of the Tangier Declaration into concrete actions for a blue, prosperous and sustainable future for Africa.
