2013 MO IBRAHIM FOUNDATION FORUM: THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE AFRICAN UNION COMMISSION HIGHLIGHTS THE IMPORTANCE OF AFRICAN BLUE ECONOMY

Addis Ababa, November 10, 2013 - The 2013 Mo Ibrahim Foundation Forum was held at the African Union (AU) Commission Headquarters on November 10, 2013 under the Theme: “Africa Ahead: The Next 50 Years”. This theme was in line with the 50th Anniversary of the OAU/AU and aimed to spell out major opportunities and specific policy challenges the continent will have to address over the next 50 years. Present at this continent-wide ceremony were high profile African personalities such as, among others, H.E. Ato Hailemariam Dessalegn, Prime Minister of the Federal Republic of Ethiopia and Chairperson of the AU, H.E. Dr. Dlamini Zuma, Chairperson of the AU Commission, H.E. Dr. Carlos Lopes, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, H.E. Dr. Donald Kaberuka, President of the African Development Bank Group, H.E. Dr. Jean Ping, former Chairperson of the AU Commission, H.E. Dr. Salim Ahmed Salim, former Secretary-General of the Organization of African Unity (OAU), H.E. Mr. Trevor Manuel, Minister in the Presidency in charge of National Planning Commission, South Africa, and H.E. Dr. Mo Ibrahim himself, Founder and Chair of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation.

In her opening note, H.E. Dr. Zuma highlighted, among others, the importance of promoting Africa’s Blue Economy and Blue Growth by stating: “To the Green Economy, we must add the Blue Economy, namely maritime resources and the all economy around the maritime industry,” a sine qua non condition to Africa’s true and meaningful renaissance that guarantees, protects and advances the socio-economic interests of African populations.

Such a statement from the Chairperson of the AU Commission reveals the extent to which the maritime dimension and the Blue Economy in Africa’s Renaissance hold a prominent place in her mandate to elaborate the AU 2063 Agenda, a global Strategy aimed at optimizing the use of Africa’s resources for the benefit of all Africans. By the same token, she exhorts African leaders and policy-makers to take ownership of African Maritime Domain.

It is therefore in line with this goal that the 2050 Africa’s Integrated Maritime Strategy (2050 AIM-Strategy), an African comprehensive and integrative vision, has been developed by the AU Commission with the conviction that Africa’s socio-economic development highly depends on her Maritime industry, Blue Economic and Blue Growth for the benefit of future African generations.

For further details on the 2050 AIM-Strategy and its Plan of Action, please visit: www.au.int/maritime