COMHAFAT and OMPDA organized a workshop, which brought together 17 participating countries, on communication for a sustainable blue economy in Africa. This event is part of the royal vision for an integrated Africa, capitalizing on the Atlantic Initiative. The objective was to raise awareness of the key role of communication in coordinating regional efforts.
The intergovernmental organization COMHAFAT, bringing together 22 countries bordering the Atlantic, from Morocco to Namibia, intends to mobilize to bring the “Atlantic dimension” to future sustainable and inclusive blue economy projects in Africa.
Indeed, as part of their partnership, the Ministerial Conference for Fisheries Cooperation of African Member States of the Atlantic Ocean (COMHAFAT) and the Media Observatory for Sustainable Fisheries in Africa (OMPDA) organized the 26th and March 27 in Fez, a workshop on the theme “Communication in the service of a sustainable and inclusive blue economy”.
This event takes place in a particularly timely context, marked by the launch by King Mohammed VI of the Atlantic Initiative, described as “a historic and strategic turning point for a prosperous Africa”. In his speech delivered during the celebration of the 48th anniversary of the Green March, the Sovereign, in fact, called for a new impetus for the blue economy at the continental level.
Royal vision for an integrated and prosperous Africa
Speaking at this meeting, Mohammed Sadiki, Minister of Agriculture, Maritime Fisheries, Rural Development and Water and Forests, noted that the organization of this workshop is fully in line with the King’s strategic vision for an Africa integrated and prosperous.
Morocco, as an Atlantic coastal country, intends to play a leading role in the promotion of a sustainable blue economy, generator of growth and vector of food security for the continent, he stressed.
The main objective of these two days was to raise participants’ awareness of the crucial importance of effective communication around the issues of the blue economy. This is in fact seen as an essential lever to stimulate the “blue transformation”, coordinate regional efforts and disseminate knowledge and good practices at the level of the 22 member states of COMHAFAT.
Participation of 17 countries
Representing 17 countries, as well as regional fisheries organizations, specialized media and experts, participants were able to exchange experiences and share their thoughts. Particular emphasis was placed on the unifying role that the Blue Belt Initiative could play, by capitalizing on innovative tools such as the collaborative platform of this initiative and the Moroccan Fisheries Observatory.
