Presidential Press Secretary, Alfredo Hengari says as a country with a coastline that stretches over 1 572 kilometers, depending heavily on the blue economy and marine resources, Namibia has an obligation to protect the ocean and ensure sustainability.
Hengari said this in a statement issued on Friday, while announcing the departure of President Hage Geingob on Thursday to the port city Brest in France, where he is due to participate in the first-ever edition of the One Ocean Summit from 09 to 11 February 2022, before proceeding to the sixth African Union (AU) and European Union (EU) Summit.
The One Ocean Summit will be attended by other 20 Heads of State on the invite of French President Emmanuel Macron, with the aim of discussing and mobilising the international community to take tangible action towards preserving and supporting a healthy and sustainable ocean.
He said Namibia has made significant progress in putting up efforts to raise awareness on the importance of sustainable development of the blue economy and is in her last stage of developing a Sustainable Blue Economy Policy. The objectives of the policy are to effectively protect, maintain and restore the diversity, productivity, resilience and intrinsic value of Namibia’s marine and aquatic ecosystems.
“In that vein, President Geingob, who since 2018 been a member of the Oceans Panel convened by the Kingdom of Norway will deliver a statement outlining Namibia’s vision of Global Governance of the Oceans, alongside President Macron and President of the Council of the European Union, Charles Michel,” said Hengari.
Geingob will then proceed to Brussels in Belgium to participate in the sixth AU-EU Summit taking place from 17-18 February 2022 where the leaders are expected to meet and discuss financing post-COVID-19 economic recovery in Africa, agriculture, sustainable development, digital inclusion, peace and security as well as climate change.
“In addition to trade and development, the summit will also seek to mobilise the international private sector to support Africa’s economic recovery,” stated Hengari.
Source: The Namibian Press Agency
