9th Indian Ocean Dialogue on Innovation in Blue Economy and its Role in GDP Contribution

Introduction

 

The Ocean domain is the largest component of the Earth’s system covering 72% of the planet’s surface. The 2030 Agenda adopted by all nations offers a concerted framework of action to set the ocean on a path to sustainability in alignment with Sustainable Blue Economy. This includes food security, economic development, technological innovation, environment and biodiversity conservation, disaster risk management and climate adaptation, as well as issues pertaining to human and social systems, scientific knowledge, social equity, gender and community health.

 

The path towards sustainable blue economy requires all the nations join efforts, mobilize resources, create innovative partnerships, and engage governments and peoples in integrated development planning. To facilitate regional, interdisciplinary discussions across various Blue Economy sectors and identify concrete deliverables and partnerships to meet innovative development pathways, the Ministry of Blue Economy and Fisheries of Zanzibar, Tanzania, in collaboration with the IORA Secretariat, will be hosting the 9^th Indian Ocean Dialogue on 22-23 May 2023 in Zanzibar.

Objectives:

This Dialogue will gather ocean leaders, experts, champions, and key stakeholders and will facilitate regional, interdisciplinary discussions across various Blue Economy sectors and identify concrete deliverables and partnerships to meet innovative development pathways focusing on raising the standard of living of the people. Discussions will be centred on regional needs and priorities in terms of transforming development, knowledge, technology, partnerships, trade, financing, and diplomacy in Blue Economy.

Expected outputs:

This Dialogue will potentially trigger cooperation among IORA Member States in the following:

• Exchange of experience on trade cooperation among IORA members in various aspects of investments, financing, and development in the Blue Economy sectors.
• Increasing cooperation in value addition, technological innovation, know-how and capacity in Sustainable Blue Economy.
• Enhance innovative practices in conservation and protection of marine biodiversity while enhancing sustainable harvesting mechanism to support regional development on blue economy.
• Mainstream women empowerment and gender mainstreaming in the Blue Economy value chain.
• Integrating climate change and area-based management tools to drive sustainable blue economy pathways.
• Digital technologies to address sustainable blue economy projects.
• Identification of strategic and priority blue economy projects that could push forward regional ocean governance and blue economy agenda.
• Identifying ways to foster cooperation between IORA Member States and Dialogue Partners for advancing Blue Economy sector in the region

Participation: IORA Member States

Title: Training Workshop Best Practices in Sea cucumber seed production and Seaweed tubular farming for commercial operations

• Venue:  Zanzibar, United Republic of Tanzania.
• Date:  22-23 May 2023.