Uhuru gets special AU award for hosting the world's first blue economy conference

President Uhuru Kenyatta receives a special award from AUC chairman Moussa Faki on Tuesday, November 27. 2018, for hosting the first blue economy conference. /PSCU

President Uhuru Kenyatta received a special award from the African Union Commission (AUC) on Tuesday evening for his role in hosting the world's first blue economy conference.

The conference began on Monday and ends on Wednesday.

Uhuru was honoured for mobilising and bringing the world together for a successful and historic conference attended by more than 18,000 delegates from 170 countries.

AUC chairperson Moussa Faki commended Uhuru for taking a leading role in driving Africa’s blue economy agenda as well as ensuring the continent harnesses its share of marine resources.

The award was given during a banquet hosted by the AUC in honour of heads of state and government and delegates attending the conference, Uhuru said Kenya is proud to push a global agenda to ensure Africa benefits from the expansive and lucrative blue economy.

He said the continent’s blue economy resources have been exploited by others for many years and it is time for Africans to come together to harness the remaining resources.

"Africa has not benefitted from this depleting resource. The continent needs to come together to exploit the remaining resources for the benefit of the continent and the future of mankind," Uhuru said.

He said his government will continue working closely with the AU towards a successful blue economy agenda.

Uhuru thanked the AUC for the award, saying the honour belongs to the “great people of Kenya”.

The banquet was hosted at a Nairobi hotel and attended by Deputy President William Ruto and AU’s special envoy for infrastructure Raila Odinga.


The AUC awards were presented in three categories to recognise countries, associations and individuals who have made significant contributions towards Africa’s blue economy agenda.

Besides President Kenyatta’s award - described as special and the most important - other African leaders recognised as champions of the continent’s blue economy campaign were the presidents of Togo Faure Gnassingbé and Seychelles's Danny Faure, who was present, and the Prime Minister of Mauritius, Pravind Jugnauth.

The AUC also recognised Canada for co-hosting the Nairobi conference alongside Japan.

The AUC chairperson said the blue economy agenda was important to the African continent, adding that 90 per cent of Africa’s exports are transported through maritime routes.

"This is why our heads of state and government have decided to prioritise the blue economy," he told the delegates.

He said the blue economy was a new frontier for Africa and thanked President Kenyatta for taking a leading role in its promotion.

The AUC chairperson called for prudent management of the resource and respect for the marine ecosystem which he termed as a blessing.

The three-day conference ends with resolutions to guide Africa on how to harness, protect, sustain and manage its marine resources.


Uhuru gets special AU award for hosting blue economy conference

Tanzania faces ballooning import bill as exports drop


WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 28 2018






Port of Dar es Salaam. Tanzania’s current account deficit widen by $966 million to $2.159 billion in the year ending September 2018, compared with $1.193 billion in the same period in 2017. PHOTO FILE | NMG
In Summary

• The Bank of Tanzania (BoT) says all categories of imports went up, especially capital goods, transport equipment, building and construction materials, an increase attributed to the ongoing construction of the standard gauge railway, roads and bridges, airports and ports.

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By BEATRICE MATERU
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Increased imports for transport equipment and building and construction materials have seen Tanzania’s current account deficit widen by $966 million to $2.159 billion in the year ending September 2018, compared with $1.193 billion in the same period in 2017.
The figure represents a 7.5 per cent rise from August 2018, when the deficit was $2.009 billion.
The Bank of Tanzania (BoT) says all categories of imports went up while exports have reduced as investors have moved operations to neighboring regions.
In its latest economic review, the central banks says oil imports, which make up the largest share of imports into the country, accelerated by 8.1 per cent to $1.973 billion, largely blamed on the rise in prices in the world market caused by supply factors.
At the same time, the export value of goods and services declined, mainly due to a decline in the export of non-traditional goods.
Non-traditional exports include diamonds, gold, manufactured goods such as mobile devices, coffee, tobacco, fish and fish products, as well as horticultural products.
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“In the year ending September 2018, the export value of goods and services accounted about $8.669 billion compared with $8.741 billion recorded in the year ending September 2017,” said the report.
Non-traditional exports include diamonds, gold, manufactured goods such as mobile devices, coffee, tobacco, fish and fish products as well as horticultural products.
The traditional exports counter features agricultural commodities, with coffee, cotton, sisal, tea, raw tobacco, cashew nuts and cloves being major.
Tanzania’s top export destinations are India, the United Arab Emirates, Switzerland, South Africa and China. The same nations also make up the import.