IMO Secretary-General Embraces Ongoing National Maritime Conference in Kenya

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IMO Secretary-General Koji Sekimizu paid a courtesy call to Eng Michael S. Kamau, Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, Republic of Kenya, at his office

From Benjamin a ameh, Lagos

IMO Secretary-General is in Kenya, where he is giving a keynote speech at the Kenya National Maritime Conference.

Ahead of the Conference, IMO Secretary-General Koji Sekimizu paid a courtesy call to Eng Michael S. Kamau, Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, Republic of Kenya, at his office, where they shared views on maritime and shipping infrastructural development in Kenya and in the region.

Also present during the courtesy visit were Nduva Muli, the Principal Secretary of the Ministry, Mrs Nancy Karigithu, Director General, Kenya Maritime Authority, Mrs Geraldine Maingi , Director Maritime Services of the Ministry, William Azuh, Head, Africa, Anglophone Section, Technical Cooperation Division, IMO and a number of other officials including John Paul Muindi, IMO Regional Coordinator, based in Nairobi.

According to email sent by Natasha Brown Media and Communications Officer Public Information Services Legal Affairs and External Relations Division International Maritime Organization said the Cabinet Secretary informed the Secretary-General that Kenya has made significant progress in the development of maritime and economic infrastructure, especially in rail linkages to ports, in order to facilitate the movement of goods and services, while there has also been progress in developing and expanding economic activities in Lake Victoria. The Japanese Government has been an important partner in supporting maritime infrastructural development in Kenya.

Secretary-General congratulated the Kenyan Government on progress made so far and stated that IMO is poised to redouble its efforts to support, not only Kenya, but African countries in their quest for maritime development.

Sekimizu said that there was a need to establish an African Maritime Development Plan, against the backdrop of the 2050 Africa Integrated Maritime Strategy (2050 AIM Strategy) while noted that maritime transport policy was at the core of maritime development for any country, but especially in developing countries, adding that IMO stood ready to assist countries in the development of their maritime policies.

 

Eng. Michael S. Kamau, Cabinet Secretary Ministry Transport and Infrastructure

In his address: Eng. Michael S. Kamau, Cabinet Secretary Ministry Transport and Infrastructure said I take this opportunity as the Cabinet Secretary in charge of maritime transport to welcome you to the inaugural National Maritime Conference. It is intended to provide a forum for interaction between government, investors and potential investors in the maritime sector, industry players and the public with the aim of creating awareness to the immense potential in the sector.

“Indeed, transforming Kenya into a blue economy will lead to creation of jobs and spur economic growth for the socioeconomic benefit of Kenyan citizens as envisioned in the economic blue print, Vision 2030. I hope that the end of the National Maritime Conference will convince you that Kenya’s ocean space and the Coastal strip – together with the associated developments such as offshore oil and gas exploration, shipyards, port facilities, fishing and tourism – provide great opportunities for investments.

“Our efforts to establish the maritime sector as one of the key drivers of the economy are in line with the African Maritime Transport Charter and the Africa Integrated Maritime Strategy 2050 where we envisage the full exploitation of Kenya’s ocean space to be a key driver of the economy.

“The Conference should therefore serve as a forum for exchange of ideas where participants will be exposed to the numerous investment opportunities that abound in the maritime sector. We also intend to use the conference to chart the way forward to by proposing a policy direction that will create a conducive environment for businesses.


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