Mr President, Excellencies, Distinguished delegates,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I bring you greetings from Mr.Kitack Lim, Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) who would have liked to be personally here today but due to other engagements, has requested me to represent him. It is a pleasure and honour to be here with you today on this beautiful island of Mahe to participate in the African Shipowners Summit 2018.
Your theme for this Summit is to “Promote African Ownership and participation in Africa’s Shipping and Maritime Sectors”. Being the second biggest continent and the world's largest island, Africa’s 30 million km² area covers one-fifth of the Earth's landmass. With a total coastline of over 26,000 km, 38 coastal countries and island states, over one hundred port facilities that handle over 90% of the continent's imports and exports, Africa’s Maritime Sectors have enormous untapped potential to contribute to both blue growth and the Blue Economy.
IMO has taken a leadership role in supporting sustainable maritime development, by setting global standards for international shipping and promoting their uniform implementation across the world. In doing so, IMO works closely with Member States, stakeholders and other international and regional organizations including the African Union.
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Around 90,000 vessels transport more than 80% of global trade by volume. They are operated by more than a million seafarers of many nationalities. Shipping is essential to the world we live in. Billions of people all over the world rely on shipping in their everyday lives, as it is the most cost-effective and fuel-efficient way to carry goods, making it the backbone of world trade.

But for the maritime industry to remain safe, secure, clean and effective, it needs to rest on a foundation of globally-enforced standards. IMO is the United Nations agency, made up of 173 Member States, responsible for developing and maintaining those crucial international standards. They cover almost every aspect of the shipping industry, including ship design, construction, equipment, manning, operation and the disposal of ships. Today there are more than 50 IMO treaties – as well as numerous codes and guidelines.

Therefore, we are a small organization with a big impact. We do not police the world oceans. We do not administer peacekeeping missions. But the decisions taken at IMO help to save lives protect the environment and provide the essential regulatory framework for a shipping industry that is the backbone of global trade.
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Excellencies, Ladies and gentlemen, over the next two days, you will be reflecting on how to promote and harness the African Blue Economy. And at IMO we are taking the opportunity this year – the year of our 70th anniversary – to reflect on our own successes, and to look ahead.

Under the theme “IMO 70: Our heritage: better shipping for a better future” we will be showcasing how IMO has developed and adapted while staying true to its overall mission – to promote safe, secure, environmentally sound, efficient and sustainable shipping.

Indeed, the Organization is working hard to ensure shipping makes a continued and strengthened contribution towards sustainable development and a greener future. This will be among IMO’s major priorities in this anniversary year and in the years to come.

I encourage you to follow our activities and events online, particularly through social media, and to take part and contribute to this global conversation about how to achieve better shipping for a better future.

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IMO is aware that in recent years, a new phase in efforts by Africans to catalyse development of the continent, and strengthen African integration and unity, has taken place through the formulation of four key documents/strategies, namely:

the African Maritime Transport Charter, 2010;
the 2050 Africa’s Integrated Maritime Strategy (2050 AIM-Strategy);
and Agenda 2063; and
Declaration of 2015-2025 as the African decade for seas and Oceans and 25 July each year as a celebration of the African Day of Seas and Oceans.

The overarching vision of the 2050 AIM-Strategy is to “foster increased wealth creation from Africa’s oceans and seas by developing a sustainable thriving Blue Economy in a secure and environmentally sustainable manner”. The effort of the Government of Seychelles in the development of the Blue Economy has been exemplary and globally recognised.

The Agenda 2063 has incorporated the 2050 AIM-Strategy and represents a collective effort and opportunity for Africa to regain its power to determine its own destiny. 'Africa’s Blue Economy, which is three times the size of its landmass, shall be a major contributor to continental transformation and growth, advancing knowledge on marine and aquatic biotechnology, the growth of an Africa-wide shipping industry, the development of sea, river and lake transport and fishing; and exploitation and beneficiation of deep sea minerals and other resources'.
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Africa’s share in world trade stands at about 3% on average, while intra-African trade averages around 10% of Africa’s total trade. The continent’s share of exports to the world has declined over the years - standing at an average of 2.5%, a net decline from 10% in the 1950s. Whilst African owned ships account for approximately 1.2% of world shipping by number and about 0.9% by gross tonnage, the ports handle only 6% of worldwide water borne cargo traffic and approximately 3% of the worldwide container traffic.
The potential for the development of for the realisation of the Mission and Vision of the African Shipowners Association is big and am sure your deliberations in the next two days will recommend the way forward.
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On IMO’s part, we have a robust technical cooperation programme that gives priority to Africa in the allocation of resources to assist countries to build their capacity to deal with some of the major challenges. We shall continue to work with you and to render technical assistance within our mandate and resources.
Mr President, Excellencies, Ladies and gentlemen,
As we discuss the development of an African fleet here today, I look forward to the IMO spirit of cooperation continuing to reflect and drive improvements and enhancements in the shipping world. I congratulate the organisers of this event and the Government of Seychelles for the support and hosting it.