MOWCA secures Senegal nod for Regional Blue Economy
By Uzor Odigbo
The Maritime Organisation of West and Central Africa (MOWCA) has secured support of the Senegalese government in it’s efforts to guide member countries to attain their blue economy potential
Dr. Paul Adalikwu, Secretary General of MOWCA who met with Papa Sagna Mbaye, Senegal Minister of Fisheries & Maritime Economy in Dakar on Tuesday, reiterated MOWCA’s commitment to strengthen economic integration among it’s member states through viable maritime trade.
Adalikwu told Sagna that the identified potentials in country to country trade utilising ports , rail, pipeline and road interconnectivity will boost the economies of MOWCA member states and advance their participation in the African Continental Free Trade Area.
The MOWCA SG who described the Port of Dakar as a viable trade edifice, said Senegal maritime infrastructure is robust to impact on neighbouring states like Mali.
Adalikwu said the blue economy concept which aims at harnessing economic benefits from waters is not leaving landlocked countries behind.
According to him dry ports and terminals in none coastal areas like Mali utilising inter-modal transport such as road, rail and pipeline will move bulk, containerized and liquid cargoes within the sub region and beyond.
Dr. Adalikwu described the 678Km long West African Gas Pipeline (WAGP) Project from Nigeria running through Benin Repubilc, Togo and Ghana as a good example of intra African trade utilising a smarter mode to move liquid cargo
The SG commended the level of partnerships among MOWCA member countries and restated that the organisation will continually promote such cooperation to boost investments and employment generation through an emerging African-wide cabotage regime.
Minister Papa Sagna Mbaye while thanking the SG for the visit, expressed optimism that MOWCA under Adalikwu is repositioned to succeed.
He described the visit as confidence building for the Senegalese government while reassuring of more deliberate and increased participation of his country in all MOWCA activities including the drive for a robust blue economy.
