What: the Governments of the Union of Comoros, Seychelles and Portugal, as well as the Africa-Europe Foundation, with the support of the African Union Commission and the European Union, have organized a High Level Policy Dialogue on Ocean Governance and Blue Economy, on the margins of the 44th Ordinary Session of the African Union Executive Council.
When: 15 February 2024 at 19h30 East Africa Time
Where: Hyatt Regency Hotel, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Who: Governments of Comoros, Seychelles, Portugal, as well as the Africa-Europe Foundation (AEF),
Welcome remarks by:
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Dhoihir Dhoulkamal, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Union of the Comoros
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Ambassador Conrad Mederic, Ambassador of the Republic of Seychelles to the African Union
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Ambassador Nancy Karigithu, Kenya’s Ambassador and Special Envoy for Maritime and Blue Economy, Co-chair of the Africa-Europe Strategy Group on Ocean Governance
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Ambassador Josefa Sacko, African Union Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment
Panel Discussion:
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Daniel Ali Bandar, Secretary-General of the Government of the Union of the Comoros
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Ambassador Josefa Sacko, African Union Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment
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João Gomes Cravinho, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Portuguese Republic
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Ambassador Nancy Karigithu, Kenya’s Ambassador and Special Envoy for Maritime and Blue Economy, Co-chair of the Africa-Europe Strategy Group on Ocean Governance
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Ambassador Javier Niño Perez, Head of the European Delegation to the African Union
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Chrissant Barbe, Director General, Blue Economy Department, Republic of Seychelles
Moderator: Nassim Oulmane, Acting Director, Technology, Climate Change and Natural Resource Management Division at UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA)
Organizers:
The high-level event, to be co-hosted in the side-lines of the African Union Executive Council as an Africa-Europe High-Level Policy Dialogue on Ocean Governance and Blue Economy, will build on the progress under the leadership of the current AU Presidency and beyond.
This activity will be jointly organized by the Governments of Comoros, Seychelles, Portugal, as well as the Africa-Europe Foundation (AEF), with the support of the African Union Commission and the European Union. It will take place on February 15 from 07.30 to 10.00 am at the Hyatt Regency Addis Ababa Hotel.
Media opportunities:
Dignitaries will deliver statements on the issue of Africa’s unique leadership role on ocean and the blue economy. It is fundamental to acknowledge the Comoros-led June 2023 Moroni Declaration for Ocean and Climate Action in Africa, the September 2023Nairobi Declaration on Climate Change and Call to Action, an outcome of the inaugural Africa Climate Summit (ACS), as well as COP28 in Dubai. Such leadership must be understood and matched by the international community to elevate and strengthen cooperation and realize African’s aspirations, as enshrined in the Africa Blue Economy Strategy (ABES).