Blue Economy: Uncovering Hidden Potentials

M embers of the Intergovern­ mental committee of Senior African and experts for the CEMAC Region (ICSOE) are currently meeting in Yaounde for their 42nd session to discuss feasible strategies to accelerate the implementation of priority reforms to boost the private sector in Central Africa especially as the region attains the midpoint of the decade of diversification, (2021-2030). The opening ceremony for the three- day session planned for October 13- 15, 2026 was culminated by the re­ lease of the socio economic and eco­ systemic assessment of the Blue Eco­ nomy in Cameroon done in collabora­ tion with Cameroon’s Ministry of the Economy, Planning and Regional De­ velopment (MINEPAT); and the Sub- Regional office of Central Africa (SRO- CA) of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA). According to the report that tracked sub-regional macroeconomic indicators such as real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) Growth, inflation, budget balance, and current account balance, Cameroon’s Blue Eco­ nomy that includes economic activities related to oceans, seas, coastal areas, and inland waters, likewise the goods and services they provide has recorded a commendable contribution to the nation’s GDP. However, the sector that covers a relatively short coastline of 402 km with an exclusive economic zone of 15,000 km square, sums to an annual monetary value of approxi­ mately FCFA 22,600 billion equivalent to 89.4 per cent of the nation’s GDP. Addressing the audience during the opening ceremony, the Minister Dele­ ...