Addis Ababa, 24th July 2015 –The Women in Maritime meeting (WIMAfrica) brings together female maritime leaders throughout the maritime sector from the various regions of the continent to discuss ways forward on cooperation and development of entrepreneurial projects of African Maritime Women in order to contribute effectively to realize the African Union Agenda 2063 . The conference also responds to the African Integrated Maritime Strategy AIM 2050 to actively facilitate to building the Blue Economy in Africa. The WIMAfrica meeting underlines the global strategy of women to ensure effective participation in the implementation of Agenda 2063.

During the three day meeting the women in maritime also held discussions on the WIMAfrica Statute which is to be presented and signed by the AUC leadership.

The African Shipowners Association meeting in the same vein was held with the sole aim of ensuring that the African aspirations expressed in Agenda 2063 are realized. The poor state of the maritime sector in Africa is clearly demonstrated by Africa’s very low participation in the carriage of its seaborne trade, very slow turnaround of ships and with this the African shipowners Association aims to primarily promote an Africa wide shipping industry that will in turn harbor world class, integrative infrastructure that criss-crosses the continent. The ASA called for the need for a proper structure spear headed by the AUC to spear head the development of mechanisms to better harness the maritime potential.

Speaking at the event Amb. Febe Potgieter-Gqubule Deputy chief of Staff of the AUC underlined the vast potential of the blue economy and commended the African Shipowners Association for their role as the private sector in galvanizing efforts to ensure all aspects relating to the maritime industry are brought to reality. “Africa is fortunate to a have a growing youth population and hence it is time to exhume all opportunities to ensure increased job creation by exploiting the great potential imbedded in Africa’s oceans and seas” said the Ambassador.

ASA derives its objectives from some of the African Union documents particularly the African Maritime Transport Charter

The three day parallel meetings are underway ahead of the launch of the 2015-2025 Decade of African Seas and Oceans and the celebration of the African Day of the Seas and Oceans to be held on the 25 of July 2015

For further information contact

Samuel KAME-DOMGUIA, Ocist,
Coordinator, 2050 AIM-Strategy Task Force
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Tel: +251-911-503 413, Fax: +251-115-182-719.
Email: SKameDomguia@Africa-Union.org.

Christiane Y. Matondo
Communication Officer, Bureau of the Chairperson
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Tel: +251-911-201 634, Fax: 251 11 551 78 44
Email: yanrouc@africa-union.org

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