Press Release Nº64/2013

THE AU’S 2050 AIM STRATEGY HAILED DURING TICAD V BY MR. KOJI SEKIMIZU, SECRETARY GENERAL OF
THE INTERNATIONAL MARITIME ORGANIZATION (IMO)

Yokohama, Japan, June 4, 2013 – 5th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD V)

As co-organizer of the TICAD V, a massive delegation, led by the Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission, H. E. Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, took part in the 5th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD V) held in Yokohama, Japan from June 1st to June 3rd 2013.

TICAD’s co-organizers work together to keep Africa’s agenda in the forefront of the world’s attention by mustering support for Africa and also have worked to form an international consensus on the priorities in African development based on the principle of African ownership of Africa’s Development.

The over one thousand conference delegates included Heads of State and Government, and delegations from Japan and 51 African countries, 35 partner countries, 75 international and regional organizations from Africa and Asia, the private sector and civil society. It was the first time that the AUC had joined the Government of Japan, the UN, the UNDP, and the World Bank as co-organizer.

Amongst eminent invitees to the Yokohama Conference in Japan was also Mr. Koji Sekimizu, Secretary General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), who, among others, mentioned the importance and necessity of a common Maritime Strategy. He elaborated a supportive speech in favor of the AU’s 2050 AIM Strategy in front of African Heads of State and Governments stating in the following terms:

“My message to TICAD V was that, as set out in the African Union's 2050 Integrated Maritime Strategy, maritime development should be placed at a high position in the Post 2015 Development Agenda.” ... “I ask all African countries to please see the way forward. New frontiers and opportunities are wide open to you; that is maritime development, the blue economy and blue growth.”

It shall be recalled that it is the AU Commission who first initiated the conceptualization of what is now known as the “Blue Economy”, within the framework of its AU’s 2050 Africa Integrated Maritime Strategy (2050 AIM Strategy).

In his speech, the Secretary General of the IMO urged that “TICAD V attaches great importance” to issues developed in the 2050 AIM Strategy. He further highlighted that “TICAD should formalize the need for maritime development and maritime capacity building in the context of the Post 2015 Development Agenda.”

Headquartered in London, the United Kingdom, the IMO, with its 170 Member States, is the United Nations (UN) specialized agency in charge of developing and adopting global regulations on safe, secure and efficient shipping and protection of the marine environment.

For your reference, the speech can be downloaded on www.au.int

The adoption of the AU’s 2050 AIM Strategy in December 2012 by the African Ministers in charge of Maritime-related Affairs marked an important milestone towards the development of the African maritime sector.

It will be a giant step if the IMO can work together with the AU in the near future towards the successful implementation of the 2050 AIM strategy .

For more information logon: www.au.int/maritime.