Hassan Magulumali
Minister of State in the Vice President’s Office responsible for Union Affairs and Environment, Eng. Hamad Yussuf Masauni, has said the Fifth International Blue Economy Conference has come at a crucial time as Tanzania and Africa seek to unlock the economic potential of marine and freshwater resources.
Speaking at the conference in Dar es Salaam, Masauni said the world and Africa had increasingly recognised that oceans, lakes, rivers and coastal areas are not merely natural heritage but strategic resources capable of contributing to food security, trade, employment and improved livelihoods.
He said the Blue Economy has been given priority in Africa’s efforts to advance its economic transformation agenda, stressing the need for countries to develop sustainable ways of turning aquatic resources into productive economic opportunities.
The conference is being held under the theme “Powering Blue Initiatives for Sustainable Economic Growth in Africa,” which, according to Masauni, highlights the importance of transforming Blue Economy resources into tangible opportunities through science, technology, innovation and investment.
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He added that the theme is also aligned with Tanzania’s National Development Vision 2050, which identifies the Blue Economy as an important sector for building a competitive and sustainable economy.
Deputy Minister for Transport David Kihenzele said the Blue Economy is deeply connected to Tanzania’s history and the daily lives of its people.
He noted that the country has significant potential in the sector, supported by its 1,424-kilometre coastline and major inland water bodies, including Lake Tanganyika.
Kihenzele said the Sixth Phase Government, under President Samia Suluhu Hassan, has created a conducive environment to ensure the country’s aquatic resources are utilised efficiently and sustainably for the benefit of both current and future generations.
Meanwhile, Dar es Salaam Maritime Institute (DMI) Principal, Prof. Tumaini Gurumo, said the Blue Economy Conference was first introduced in 2022 to promote awareness and encourage research, particularly in the field of waterborne transportation.
Prof. Gurumo said the conference brings together government representatives, researchers and other stakeholders to discuss practical ways of harnessing Blue Economy opportunities for sustainable development in Tanzania and across Africa.
The Fifth International Blue Economy Conference was officially opened on September 7, 2026, at the Julius Nyerere International Convention Centre (JNICC) in Dar es Salaam.
The three-day conference is scheduled to conclude on September 9, 2026, bringing together stakeholders to explore investment, innovation, research and policy opportunities within Africa’s growing Blue Economy sector.
