Sustainable Blue Economy Conference held in Nairobi, Kenya

The first Sustainable Blue Economy Conference was held in Nairobi, capital of Kenya. It was organized by Kenya and cohosted by Japan and Canada. The theme of this conference was ‘The Blue Economy and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.’

Sustainable Blue Economy Conference

This conference was held on momentum of UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, 2015 Climate Change Conference in Paris and UN Ocean Conference 2017 ‘Call to Action. Over 17,000 plus participants from some 184 countries had participated in the conference. India was represented Union Minister for Shipping, Road Transport & Highways, Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation Nitin Gadkari. Other parties who participated in this conference are World Wildlife Fund, WWF; International Maritime Organization, IMO; International Seabed Authority, ISA;  orld Bank; AFRIEXIMBANK; Ocean Foundation etc.

Background

Blue Economy is economic benefit and value that is realized from Earth’s coastal and marine environment. Sustainable Blue Economy is marine-based economy that provides social and economic benefits for current and future generations, restores, protects and maintains diversity, productivity and resilience of marine ecosystems. It is also based on clean technologies, renewable energy, and circular material flows.
Blue Economy is very crucial for India’s economic development. India has strategic location in Indian Ocean region (IOR), and on this basis, it endorses growth of Blue Economy in sustainable, inclusive and people centred manner through framework of Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA).
India is also developing its maritime infrastructure as well as its inland waterways and coastal shipping through launch of the ambitious “Sagarmala Programme” which aims to revolutionize maritime logistics and port led developments in country. India’s national vision about this sector is clearly articulated in term “SAGAR”- Security and Growth for All in IOR which was coined by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Month: Current Affairs - November, 2018