Meeting today at the Caudan Arts Centre for the Western Indian Ocean (WIO) Futures 2026 conference, scientists, diplomats and community representatives from a dozen countries are laying the stone for a new governance for the Indian Ocean. While Arvin Boolell draws the maritime roadmap, Navin Ramgoolam carries an unprecedented proposal from the Africa Forward Summit: build a coalition of ocean states to make a common front in the face of shared maritime challenges.
Organized by the Charles Telfair Centre in partnership with the Odysseo Foundation and Curtin Mauritius, the WIO Futures 2026 conference brings together more than 20 speakers from different countries. Placed under the theme Building a Resilient Ocean Economy through Science, Policy, and Community, it aims to produce a roadmap articulated around three axes: the enhancement of science, the recognition of community data and the capacity of Small Island Developing States to act in multilateral ocean governance.
The Minister of Agro-industry, Food Security, the Blue Economy and Fisheries, Arvin Boolell, recalls the strategic weight of the Mauritian maritime space. With an exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of 2.2 million square kilometers – the largest in Africa and the 20th in the world – the ocean is, for Mauritius, much more than a horizon: it is destined to become its primary engine. The port alone treats 99.5% of the country’s foreign trade. The minister takes stock of emerging opportunities: if coastal tourism, industrial fishing and maritime transport maintain their competitiveness, booming sectors are becoming essential – renewable marine energy, aquaculture, marine biotechnology, blue finance. The government’s objective is to increase the contribution of the blue economy to GDP from 10.5% to 20% by 2035.
« Africa Forward Summit »
Last week, at the Africa Forward Summit, Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam co-chaired with Senegal’s President Bassirou Diomaye Faye a round table on the blue economy. The head of government formulated a proposal that Mauritius now intends to bring to the regional level: the creation of a coalition of the Ocean States, designed to build a common strategy in the face of shared maritime challenges. Navin Ramgoolam said in his opening speech: « We share a common good with Africa: the ocean. We also carry the voices of the island states. Mauritius is a small state by land but a large state by sea. » He announced the creation of a marine protected area around the Chagos archipelago with an area of 645,835 square kilometers.
Ocean State Coalition: What is it?
The Ambassador of Mauritius in Paris, Joël Rault (photo), describes the Coalition of Oceanic States as « a flexible platform for cooperation between countries that bear a significant maritime responsibility, either because they have vast exclusive economic zones, or because they administer large maritime spaces, or because they play a strategic role in the governance of the oceans. »He explains that this idea carried by the Prime Minister must not remain an isolated theme: « Oceanic issues have become central: protection of marine biodiversity, maritime safety, fight against illegal fishing, climate resilience, trade routes, submarine cables, ports, blue finance, training and jobs at the sea. »
Joël Rault adds that while some states are large in GDP, others are huge in their oceanic responsibility: « It is therefore natural that the countries concerned by these challenges get closer, exchange their experiences, pool their capacities and bring together solutions at the regional and global level. »According to him, this coalition will be oriented towards projects: « Mobilization of blue funding, improvement of maritime safety, sharing of oceanic data, protection of ecosystems, development of resilient infrastructure, training in blue trades and creation of jobs related to the sea. »
For Mauritius, this initiative offers several prospects. Joël Rault explains that it will strengthen the country’s positioning as a reference African and island actor in terms of blue diplomacy: « Mauritius is not just an island: it is an African state in the Indian Ocean, with a considerable maritime space and directly concerned by the major oceanic issues: maritime security, biodiversity, sustainable fishing, climate resilience, ports, innovation and the blue economy. »
Regarding economic opportunities, Joël Rault explains: « The coalition will make it possible to better mobilize blue finance, structure bankable projects, develop resilient port and coastal infrastructure, strengthen aquaculture, sustainable fishing, ocean research, maritime surveillance, financial services related to the ocean and blue professions. »
He adds that if Port-Louis hosts a follow-up meeting, the island will not only be a participant in this dynamic, but a country capable of gathering, coordinating and helping to transform ideas into concrete projects. Finally, Joël Rault explains that this initiative will strengthen the country’s credibility internationally: « It will allow Mauritius to talk about this subject with a constructive voice at the international level, to small island states, to Indian Ocean partners and international institutions, around a positive, pragmatic and non-conflictual proposal. »
Questions to… Arvin Boolell, Minister of Agribusiness, Food Security, Blue Economy and Fisheries
🔵 How can the « Blue Economy » make Mauritius the African « hub » of « de-risking » and climate finance
Port development is at the heart of the system. The creation of an island port, transshipment infrastructure and the modernization of the container port will position Mauritius as a key logistics hub in the Indian Ocean. On climate finance, small island states account for only about 1% of global carbon emissions but suffer the most devastating effects. They are justified in claiming compensation mechanisms – blue bonds and marine carbon credits.
🔵 Beyond the speeches, what specific projects does Maurice intend to carry out before the next summit in India – maritime security, aquaculture, ocean energy, climate financing
Maritime safety is a top priority. Facilities were granted to India as part of the « Security and Growth for All in the Region » policy, in addition to enhanced cooperation with France and the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue. In terms of fisheries, pelagic tuna – “our white gold” – and demersal fishing open up considerable prospects. The Saya de Malha site represents an exceptional carbon sink, and the continental shelf shared with the Seychelles offers major potential for aquaculture, including the cultivation of sea cucumber.
🔵 The « Africa Forward Summit » put economic sovereignty at the center. Mauritius has a huge EEZ considered underexploited. What is your roadmap for the next five years
The opportunities are real, the challenges are just as real. The creation of a fishing port and a fish market, the development of aquaculture in the lagoon and outside the lagoon, the biochemical and pharmaceutical research conducted by the Mauritius Oceanography Institute – these projects are all priorities. The legislation on the blue economy will provide the necessary regulatory framework. Discussions with the European Union on the reference thresholds for tuna are also progressing.
source : lexpress
