Blue Economy Ocean Day in the Indian Ocean (17 July 2021)
For the first time, and under the impetus of France, which currently chairs the Indian Ocean Commission, the entire IOC region will participate in the Blue Economy Day on 17 July.
Blue Economy Day is the opportunity to highlight the maritime challenges Indian Ocean countries are facing and the existing solutions or to create for a sustainable and reasonable management of ocean activities. The blue economy is a promising cooperation framework bringing together several countries and many actors from the private sector, civil society and the scientific world, associations and more.
To mark this day, French embassies and Alliances Françaises of countries in the southwestern Indian Ocean and in southern Africa (Tanzania, Kenya, Mozambique, South Africa) will hold many events. For example, there will be a day of awareness-raising about the conservation of mangroves in Madagascar and an open house at the National Centre of Documentation and Scientific Research (CNDRS) in Comoros and a science café in Kenya. These events are part of the “2021: Indian Ocean’s Blue Year” project that we are conducting to promote ocean activities that respect human rights and the environment.
France is a member of two regional organization of the Indian Ocean for which the blue economy is a major focus of cooperation: the IOC chaired by France from May 2021 to May 2022 and the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA). The Agence Française de Développement is conducting several projects to fight coastal degradation in the area and loss of biodiversity in the Indian Ocean.
Franck Riester, Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade and Economic Attractiveness presents France’s commitment to the blue economy: