MEDIA ADVISORY
LAUNCH OF THE 2015-2025 DECADE OF AFRICAN SEAS AND OCEANS, CELEBRATION OF THE AFRICAN DAY OF THE SEAS AND OCEANS AND INAUGURAL SESSION OF THE STRATEGIC TASK FORCE ON THE 2050 AFRICA’S INTEGRATED MARITIME STRATEGY (2050 AIM-STRATEGY)

What: African Day of Seas and Oceans and inaugural session of the Strategic Task Force on the 2050 AIM- Strategy.

Theme: “Harnessing the Blue economy in Achieving the African Union Agenda 2063”

When: 24-25 July 2015

The meeting will feature the following events:

- 24 July 2015: The Inaugural Meeting of the African Union Strategic Task Force on the 2050 Africa’s Integrated Maritime Strategy (2050 AIM-Strategy)
- 24 July 2015: Panel Discussion and Official Dinner
- 24 July 2015:Ship Owners Association and Women in Maritime (as side events)
- 25 July: Launch of the Decade of Africa Seas and Oceans and
Celebration of the African Day of Seas and Oceans

Who:The African Union Commission

Where:African Union Headquarters, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Participants: The event will bring together many stakeholders including African Union Member States, Regional Economic Communities (RECs), Regional Mechanisms, Financial Institutions and Insurance Companies, the Private Sector, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), Shipper Councils, Port Associations, Maritime Training Institutions, Maritime Desks of RECs, Media, etc.

Objectives: The event aims:

- To develop and adopt Terms of Reference for the work of the Strategic Task Force to accomplish the mandate given by the Malabo Decision requesting the establishment of a Strategic Task Force
- To launch the 2015-2025 as the Decade of African Seas and Oceans
- To raise awareness about the necessity to celebrate the Africa Day of Seas and Oceans both at National and Continental levels
Expected Outcome:

- Popularize the 2050 AIM-Strategy and the Africa’s Blue Economy.

- Develop a road map for consideration by the AU policy organs in view of the extraordinary session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government scheduled to be held in Lomé, Togo in November 2015.

Africa’s seas and oceans represent today major assets to accelerate the development of African economies. Indeed, 90% of Africa’s imports and exports are conducted by sea. It then becomes necessary for the Continent to take advantage of the opportunities offered by the Blue economy. Being aware of this reality, the 22nd Ordinary Session of Heads of States and Governments adopted the Africa’s Integrated Maritime Strategy (2050 AIM Strategy) and its Plan of Action for Implementation. The 2050 AIM Strategy recommendedthe establishment of an Africa Day of Seas and Oceans and the launching of a Decade of African Seas and Oceans. The 23rd Ordinary Session of Heads of State and Government in Malabo requested the African Union Commission in consultation with the Permanent Representatives Committee to facilitate the establishment of a Strategic Task Force composed of Representatives of Member States, the RECs and the Commission, with a mandate to consider the technical details of the 2050 AIM-Strategy and propose a roadmap for the incremental implementation of the strategy in conformity with International Maritime Law. In line with the Malabo Decision, the African Union has scheduled 24 July 2015 to hold the Inaugural Meeting of the African Union Strategic Task Force on the 2050 AIM-Strategy and theLaunch of the Decade of Africa Seas and Oceans together with the celebration of the very first Africa Day of Seas and Oceans which will follow the meeting on 25 July 2015.

Media representatives are invited to attend and cover the events.

For any inquiry, please contact:
Samuel Kame-Domguia| Coordinator of the 2050 AIM-Strategy Task Force I African Union Commission I E-mail: SkameDomguia@african-union.org I Tel: +251911503413I Fax: +251115182719 I Addis Ababa | Ethiopia

Directorate of Information and Communication | African Union Commission I E-mail: DIC@african-union.org I Web Site: www.au.int I Addis Ababa | Ethiopia

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