July 13-17, 2025 (DJIBOUTI, Djibouti): IGAD’s Blue Economy Unit is undertaking a field mission in Djibouti to assess and document the country’s leading Blue Economy sectors. This mission supports IGAD’s ongoing efforts to strengthen sustainable blue growth and regional integration, in line with its Blue Economy Strategy (2021–2025).
Over the past four years, IGAD, with support from SIDA, has helped Member States develop national Blue Economy strategies, establish coordination platforms, and build institutional capacity. Djibouti, as a key coastal state, is now at the center of a new regional initiative BE-Prosper designed to enhance cooperation, trade, and climate resilience across the Horn of Africa.
The mission aims to capture practical lessons from Djibouti’s blue sectors, including ports, salt extraction, tourism, fiber optics, and seafood production. IGAD teams will visit sites such as Demerjog Livestock Port, Tadjourah Coal Port, Obock Fishing Port, Djibouti City’s commercial ports, Park fish industry in Loyada, Lake Assal, Arta’s marine tourism area, and Djibouti Telecom’s submarine cable station.
This fieldwork builds on two recent regional knowledge-sharing events and responds to calls to document successful models for replication. The data collected will inform policy briefs, promotional content, and investment planning under the BE-Prosper program. It will also highlight the role of both public and private sectors in advancing high-quality blue food production and trade.
Findings from the mission will guide targeted interventions along a proposed Djibouti–Somalia–Ethiopia trade corridor, aligning with the AfDB’s Regional Integration Strategy and the AU’s Blue Economy agenda. By showcasing Djibouti’s experience, IGAD aims to scale up best practices across its Member States and accelerate sustainable blue development in the region.
