Discours du Maire de la Ville de Djibouti pour la 2ᵉ Foire de Partage de Connaissances sur l’Économie Bleue

Date de l'événement : 2024-11-27

Honorable Minister of the Environment and the Sustainable Development of the republic of Djibouti, Honorable Ministers , Excellencies, Ambassadors, Honorable IGAD Executive Secretary Dear representatives of Regional and International Institutions, Ladies and Gentlemen, Distinguished guests, It is with an immense honor that I stand before you today to inaugurate the Second edition of the Knowledge Sharing Fair on the Blue Economy, organized by IGAD under the theme: “Investing in the Blue Economy for Regional Integration”. The blue economy is much more than an emerging concept; it is a revolutionary opportunity, a pillar of socio-economic and environmental transformation for Africa. Part of the African Union's Integrated Maritime Strategy to Horizon 2050, the blue economy is rightly described as “the new frontier of the African Renaissance”. Here in Djibouti, a port city and crossroads of maritime trade, we understand the crucial importance of this approach. Our coastline abounds in untapped potential, and the aquatic resources we share with our neighbors represent an invaluable resource. As a city, we have benefited directly from IGAD's efforts, notably through initiatives aimed at strengthening our local capacities and promoting sustainable management of marine and coastal resources. I would also like to highlight IGAD's invaluable support in the clean-up of Siesta and Heron beaches, notably as part of our flagship Zero Waste project. These concrete actions testify the importance of preserving our coastal spaces for future generations, while strengthening the resilience of our ecosystems. The theme of this Second edition “Investing in the Blue Economy for Regional Integration” perfectly illustrates the way forward. It is a call for collective action to maximize the potential of the blue economy while strengthening cohesion between our nations. In Djibouti, we firmly believe that regional integration is not only a necessity, but also an essential lever for ensuring the equitable and sustainable management of our resources. Our municipality is committed to play an active role in this dynamic, by mobilizing local stakeholders and supporting initiatives that promote livelihood diversification, biodiversity conservation and inclusive economic development. In this occasion, as the mayor of this city. First, I would like to thank the IGAD Executive Secretary and his esteemed team for believing in our capacity as a territorial collectivity to showcase our capacity in the implementation of the Blue Economy vision into the field. In the second time I would like to propose for the futur the establishment of a chart in the blue Economy politics for the cities mayors in the IGAD country member. Together, we can transform the blue economy into an engine of shared prosperity. But this requires strong political will, targeted investment, and above all, reinforced collaboration between all the players: States, regional institutions, local communities, and the private sector. I am convinced that the exchanges that will take place over these three days will bear concrete fruit, and chart a clear course towards a future where our marine resources are used sustainably for the benefit of all. Thank you for your attention.