NAIROBI – Vice President Lucia Witbooi says Africa must stop exporting marine resources without processing them, saying the continent must use its oceans to drive industrialisation, job creation and economic independence.
She was speaking at the Parallel Round Table on Blue Economy, a sideline event along the Africa Forward summit in Nairobi earlier this week.
Speaking before African leaders, ministers, investors and development partners at the high-level summit, Witbooi said Namibia was shifting from simply exporting fish to building a complete marine value chain through processing, packaging, branding and green shipping partnerships.
Her remarks came during discussions focused on climate change, ocean governance, maritime financing and sustainable use of marine resources.
“The world’s blue economy is valued at over US$300 billion, yet 70% of our fish, especially in Africa is exported with minimal processing, and this cannot continue like that,” she said.
Witbooi said the world needs to shift the attention from climate discussions to economic transformation and ownership of African resources.
“True value addition should result in retaining more of this value chain on African soil,” she told delegates.
The vice president said Namibia was now moving away from what she called a “catch and ship” system to a model where marine products are fully processed inside the country.
“By 2030, under our national development plan, 60% of all Namibian marine products will undergo secondary and tertiary processing on Namibian shores,” she announced.
She said Africa could no longer remain a supplier of raw materials while other economies benefited from manufacturing and exports.
“For too long, the value chain of African resources has followed an unequal pattern. Africa must no longer remain only a supplier of raw materials but must become a driver of industrialisation, innovation and equitable economic growth,” Witbooi said.
The vice president also announced plans for a Franco-Namibian Marine Institute aimed at training thousands of technicians in shipbuilding, aquaculture and marine robotics by 2030.
“This is the kind of partnership that will bring about structural changes in the blue economy ecosystem in Namibia and in the region,” she said.
Witbooi further revealed plans for an Atlantic Blue Corridor linking Walvis Bay with Dakar, Abidjan and Marseille through green shipping systems and hydrogen-powered vessels.
Namibia also proposed the establishment of a Franco-African Blue Investment Fund to finance marine processing projects across the continent.
The round table featured several speakers from Africa, Europe, the United Nations and the private sector who highlighted different challenges affecting oceans and coastal economies.
A Senegalese president, Bassirou Diomaye Diakhar Faye, stressed that the blue economy must balance environmental protection, economic progress and fair sharing of marine resources. Senegal also warned about coastal erosion and illegal fishing while calling for stronger protection of marine ecosystems.
One of the most emotional interventions came from Seychelles, where the country’s president questioned whether developed nations were genuinely committed to helping vulnerable island states facing climate change.
In addition, United Nations Environment Programme executive director Inger Andersen warned that oceans were increasingly under pressure because of global warming and rising carbon emissions.
“The oceans are acidifying and they are warming, which means that the fish you have today will not be the fish of tomorrow,” Andersen said.
She also urged developed countries to reduce emissions and support financing for vulnerable coastal nations.
French Minister for Sea and Fisheries Affairs Catherine Chabaud said Africa had both the challenges and the solutions needed to unlock the blue economy.
“Africa doesn’t lack the resources. Africa has challenges, but also, we have the solutions,” she said.
Orange representatives emphasised the role of undersea internet cables and ocean infrastructure in improving digital connectivity across Africa, while shipping company CMA CGM said it was investing in the continent’s ports, logistics and maritime jobs.