December 19, 2022 (BAHIR DAR, Ethiopia): The Minister for Transport and Logistics of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, H.E Mrs Dagmawit Moges, the Minister for Tourism, H.E Mrs Nasise Chali, and the State Minister for Water and Energy, H.E Dr. Abraha Adugna, yesterday signed the adoption of the National Blue Economy Strategy (2023-2027) of Ethiopia during a meeting organised in collaboration with the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD).
The President of the Amhara Regional State, H.E Dr. Yilkal Kefale Asres, the Mayor of Bahir Dar City, the Director of IGAD Agriculture and Environment Division, and the President of Bahir Dar University, as well as high level officials from Ethiopian Maritime Authority, the Ministry of Labour and Skills, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, also attended the ministerial meeting.
In her opening remarks, the Minister for Transport and Logistics said: “The Strategy promotes access to technologies and innovations; capacity building, and improving the role and participation of women and youth in the Blue Economy. It has interventions to strengthen science and research that help to generate and disseminate evidence-based knowledge and information and guide policy and decision-making; most importantly it sets out the blue governance mechanisms for effective implementation of the strategic goals”.
The President of the Amhara Region took the floor and said “I believe that blue economy coordination requires the transformation of institutional structures, governance models, and regulatory frameworks; and training surely addresses these matters in depth. I also hope that our national blue economy strategy will be a pioneering guide for our future cooperation, coordination, and blue governance. I am confident that with this we will build a prosperous and bright future for our new generation.”
The Director of IGAD Agriculture and Environment Division, Mr Daher Elmi mentioned “Nine months ago in Addis Ababa, Member States’ Ministers in charge of coordinating of the Blue Economy approved the IGAD Regional Blue Economy Strategy and one of the key recommendations was IGAD to support Member States in domesticating the Blue Economy Strategy. I would like to reassure that IGAD is committed to provide all the necessary support for the sustainable utilisation of the Blue Economy potentials for the socio-economic development of the region.”
The adoption of the five-year Strategy for Ethiopia was preceded by a two-day workshop in Bahir Dar aimed at preparing for the ministerial level adoption. The IGAD Blue Economy Project is supported by Government of Sweden.
