The Africa Blue Economy Roundtable – ABER has inaugurated its Regional Council, marking a major step toward decentralizing and accelerating the implementation of the Blue Economy across Africa.
Speaking during the virtual inaugural meeting, the Convener and Chief Executive Officer of ABER, Dr. Piriye Kiyaramo, congratulated the newly elected regional facilitators of the Council and expressed implicit confidence in their capacity to deliver on ABER’s continental mandate.
ABER was conceived in 2018 on the conviction that Africa’s prosperity will be tied to how well the continent manages and benefits from its oceans, seas, lakes, and rivers.
Between 2018 and 2022, ABER served as a convening and advocacy platform, shaping the narrative and placing the Blue Economy at the center of Africa’s development dialogue.
From 2023 to date, ABER has transitioned to an implementation platform anchored on Dialogue, Deal-making, and Delivery. This phase prioritizes support to AU Member States and Regional Economic Communities to domesticate the AU 2050 Africa’s Integrated Maritime Strategy – AIM Strategy and to develop bankable Blue Economy projects.
The Regional Council was established to ensure ABER’s presence and impact in every region of the continent.
According to the CEO, Regional Facilitators will serve as ABER’s frontline engagement with national governments across Africa. Their core responsibilities include: Supporting governments to domesticate the AU 2050 AIM Strategy and develop national Blue Economy roadmaps.
Convening the private sector, coastal communities, academia, youth, women, and development partners at the regional level. Identifying, packaging, and de-risking bankable Blue Economy projects in fisheries, renewable ocean energy, shipping, coastal tourism, and ecosystem restoration. Ensuring that regional progress feeds into the continental ABER agenda.
A high point of the meeting was the election of the Council’s pioneer leadership where Rev. Chaplain Sean Petoors, Southern Africa Regional Facilitator emerged as Chairman with Madam Devota K Mdachi, Eastern Africa Regional Facilitator as Pioneer Secretary.
Dr. Kiyaramo congratulated the new leadership, noting that the appointments reflect balance, experience, and the pan-African spirit required to drive the agenda.
“I have full and implicit confidence in this leadership. With your experience and commitment, you will provide the direction and drive this Council requires,” the CEO stated.
The CEO emphasized that with 38 coastal states, over 47,000km of coastline, and more than 300 million people dependent on aquatic resources, Africa’s Blue Economy opportunity is immense.
“This Council must be where we remove bottlenecks. Where we move capital to the coastline. And where we ensure that growth does not come at the expense of our oceans and the communities that depend on them,” he added.
The meeting concluded with a commitment by all Regional Facilitators to work collaboratively to deliver One ABER, One Voice, and One Agenda for Africa’s Blue Future.
Capt. Young Patrice Lumumba, Regional Facilitator for ECCAS/CEMAC Zone, commended the transparent process that led to the election of the Council’s pioneer executive. He pledged, on behalf of his colleagues, to work with the new leadership to achieve ABER’s set objectives.
In his acceptance speech, Rev. Chaplain Sean Petoors, Pioneer elected Chairman of the ABER Regional Facilitators’ Council and Southern Africa Regional Facilitator, expressed gratitude to the ABER Regional Facilitators for the honour of his election.
“To our Founder and President: your 2018 vision for Africa’s Blue and Green Economy has now entered its second phase across all 5 regions. Thank you for your steadfast leadership. May God bless you and your family.
Congratulations to Madame Devota on your election as Secretary. You have the full support of myself and all facilitators.
To all Facilitators and Regions: thank you for your trust. Transparency and consultation will guide us. My commitment is to make ABER the go-to platform for youth, women, and businesses in the Blue and Green Economy, with a presence in all 54 African countries.
I look forward to visiting each region soon,” he said.
The Africa Blue Economy Roundtable is a continental platform that convenes governments, the private sector, academia, and civil society to accelerate sustainable and inclusive growth of Africa’s Blue and Green Economy.
