Yaounde, 11 July 2025 (ECA) – The International Conference on the Sustainable Blue Economy in the Gulf of Guinea was held from 9 to 10 July 2025 in Yaounde, Cameroon. Convened by the Government of the Republic of Cameroon, in partnership with the Gulf of Guinea Commission and the President of the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly, the high-level meeting brought together senior political, scientific and technical leaders from across the region.
In her opening address, UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed underscored the urgent need to “combine governance, science, inclusion and regional cooperation to make the blue economy a driver of peace, prosperity and resilience.”
As the lead United Nations agency on economic development in the subregion, the Subregional Office for Central Africa of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) provided technical support throughout the conference. Welcoming the signing of the Conference’s outcome document, the Yaounde Declaration, SRO-CA Director Jean Luc Mastaki, underscored the transformative potential of the blue economy for countries in the Gulf of Guinea, a region that spans the economic spaces of both Central and West Africa.
He recalled that the subregion boasts 2,000 km of coastline, more than 700,000 km² of exclusive economic zones (EEZ), and a vast network of rivers and lakes. Yet, only 6% of Africa’s port traffic passes through Central Africa, and 150 million people across the region still lack access to electricity, despite the fact that 95% of its hydroelectric potential remains untapped, clear indicators of deep structural deficits in infrastructure and connectivity.
“The blue economy is a pathway to economic sovereignty and industrialization. It can feed, power, and integrate the region sustainably, if anchored in innovation, youth leadership, and targeted investments,” said Mr. Mastaki.
He identified aquaculture, maritime and inland transport, offshore renewable energy, and coastal tourism as key sectors, based on ECA’s Blue Economy Policy Brief for Central Africa. He urged member States to integrate these pillars more strategically into national industrial policies and the implementation frameworks of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
ECA’s technical support was recognized during a high-level panel on innovative financing, where Mr. Mastaki emphasized the potential of blue finance instruments and encouraged governments to build on existing models, including: Gabon’s sovereign blue bond (USD 500 million, 2023), Seychelles’ sovereign blue bond (USD 15 million, 2018) and a series of debt-swaps, such as the Seychelles (USD 21.6 million in 2016 to protect 30% of its EEZ), Cabo Verde (USD 12 million), and São Tomé and Príncipe (USD 3.5 million).
“We urge our countries to strengthen their capacities to develop bankable projects and foster innovative partnerships,” he stated.
Mr. Mastaki also called for the establishment of a Regional Observatory on the Blue Economy as a platform for tracking commitments, generating data-driven insights, coordinating policies, and incubating local blue economy initiatives.
On the sidelines of the conference, ECA’s Central Africa Office showcased its flagship contributions to the region’s blue economy transformation. During the Knowledge Fair visited by DSG Amina Mohammed and the President of the 79th UN General Assembly, the Office presented the ECA’s Blue Economy Valuation Toolkit (BEVTK) and the key findings of its latest study on the potential of Central Africa’s blue economy. In support of commitments set out in the Yaoundé Declaration, and following a request from the Government of Cameroon, ECA is pleased to announce the upcoming rollout of the BEVTK to Cameroon to support evidence-based planning and investment in the sector.
Through its technical expertise, analytical tools and continued support to member States, ECA reaffirms its commitment to mobilizing resources, data and partnerships to make the blue economy a lever for structural transformation, inclusive growth and sustainable development across Africa.
Zacharie Roger MBARGA - Communications Officer
United Nations Economic Commission for Africa
637, rue 3.069, Quartier du Lac, Yaoundé, Cameroon
Tel: (+237) 222504348
E-mail: zacharie.mbargayene@un.org
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