JAPANESE PRIME MINISTER’S VISIT TO THE AFRICAN UNION: THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE COMMISSION HIGHLIGHTS THE IMPORTANCE OF AFRICA’S VAST OCEANIC RESOURCES AND THE COMMISSION’S DETERMINATION TO PROMOTE THE CONTINENT’S BLUE ECONOMY

Addis Ababa, January 14, 2014 - As a follow up to his commitment made at TICAD V (The Fifth Tokyo International Conference on African Development) held in June 2013 in Yokohama, Japan, H.E. Mr. Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister of Japan, undertook an official visit to Africa, a visit that took him to the African Union (AU) Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia where, in the presence of AU staff and various government officials, diplomatic corps, businessmen, local communities, and media representatives, he elaborated Japan’s foreign policy initiatives for Africa.

Echoing to the remarks made by H.E. Mr. Ato Hailemariam Desalegn, Prime Minister of Ethiopia and Chairperson of the AU, and those of H.E. Mr. Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister of Japan, H.E. Dr. ZUMA, in her closing remarks, highlighted that “Africa, in addition to land resources, also has vast oceanic resources, and therefore is exploring more sustainable and inclusive ways of expanding and protecting its Blue economy, yet another area where we can share experience with Japan.”

Dr. ZUMA’s statement reveals the extent to which the AU Commission and Africans in general have decided to protect their maritime domain and promote the continent’s Blue Economy, a dimension that holds a prominent place in the AU 2063 Agenda. Such a vision is well-articulated in the AU 2050 Africa’s Integrated Maritime Strategy (2050 AIM-Strategy), an African comprehensive, integrative, innovative and multi-layered common approach developed by Africans, with Africans, and for Africans on the basis that Africa’s socio-economic development highly depends on her Maritime industry, Blue Economic and Blue Growth, also referred to, by the AU 387th Peace and Security Council held at Ministerial level on July 29, 2013, as “a new frontline of Africa's true and meaningful renaissance.”

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