US President Joe Biden said Thursday (Oct 24) that he will issue a formal apology for the treatment of Native American children who were forcibly removed from their families by the US government and put into an abusive boarding school system.

For over 150 years, the schools sought to forcibly assimilate Native Americans, with a recent government report detailing numerous cases of physical, mental and sexual abuse, as well as the deaths of over 950 children.

"I'm heading to do something that should have been done a long time ago," the president said as he left the White House. "To make a formal apology to the Indian nations for the way we treated their children for so many years."

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/noble-winner-economists-called-kamala-harris-economic-plan-vastly-superior-unhappy-with-trumps-770602">Noble winner economists called Kamala Harris' economic plan 'vastly superior', unhappy with Trump's</a>

Biden is scheduled to make the official apology Friday on a visit to the Gila River Indian Reservation in Arizona, one of the states with the highest Native American populations in the country and a key battleground in the US election.

The boarding schools, which were run by the US government, were in operation from the early 19th century until the 1970s.

The report found at least 973 children died at these schools, many of which were far from their original homes.

Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland, the first Native American cabinet secretary in US history, was a major force behind the investigation that produced the report.

"For more than a century, tens of thousands of Indigenous children as young as four years old, were taken from their families and communities and forced into boarding schools," Haaland told reporters. "This includes my own family."

"For decades, this terrible chapter was hidden from our history books," she continued. "But now our administration's work will ensure that no one will ever forget."

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/japan-and-us-finance-leaders-address-currency-fluctuations-in-bilateral-talks-770632">Japan and US Finance leaders address currency fluctuations in bilateral talks</a>

The apology follows formal declarations in Canada, where thousands of children died at similar boarding schools, and other countries around the world where historic abuses of Indigenous populations are increasingly being recognized.

In a statement, the White House said the apology was being issued in order to "remember and teach our full history, even when it is painful."

"That the president is taking that step tomorrow is so historic, I'm not sure I could adequately put its impact into words," Haaland said.

Biden's visit to Arizona, a state he narrowly won in 2020, comes in the midst of an extremely close presidential campaign between Vice President Kamala Harris and Republican former president Donald Trump.

Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

US President Joe Biden said Thursday (Oct 24) that he will issue a formal apology for the treatment of Native American children who were forcibly removed from their families by the US government and put into an abusive boarding school system.

US President Joe Biden said Thursday (Oct 24) that he will issue a formal apology for the treatment of Native American children who were forcibly removed from their families by the US government and put into an abusive boarding school system. For over 150 years, the schools sought to forcibly assimilate Native Americans, with a recent government report detailing numerous cases of physical, mental and sexual abuse, as well as the deaths of over 950 children. "I'm heading to do something that should have been done a long time ago," the president said as he left the White House. "To make a formal apology to the Indian nations for the way we treated their children for so many years." Also read | Noble winner economists called Kamala Harris' economic plan 'vastly superior', unhappy with Trump's Biden is scheduled to make the official apology Friday on a visit to the Gila River Indian Reservation in Arizona, one of the states with the highest Native American populations in the country and a key battleground in the US election. The boarding schools, which were run by the US government, were in operation from the early 19th century until the 1970s. The report found at least 973 children died at these schools, many of which were far from their original homes. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland, the first Native American cabinet secretary in US history, was a major force behind the investigation that produced the report. "For more than a century, tens of thousands of Indigenous children as young as four years old, were taken from their families and communities and forced into boarding schools," Haaland told reporters. "This includes my own family." "For decades, this terrible chapter was hidden from our history books," she continued. "But now our administration's work will ensure that no one will ever forget." Also read | Japan and US Finance leaders address currency fluctuations in bilateral talks The apology follows formal declarations in Canada, where thousands of children died at similar boarding schools, and other countries around the world where historic abuses of Indigenous populations are increasingly being recognized. In a statement, the White House said the apology was being issued in order to "remember and teach our full history, even when it is painful." "That the president is taking that step tomorrow is so historic, I'm not sure I could adequately put its impact into words," Haaland said. Biden's visit to Arizona, a state he narrowly won in 2020, comes in the midst of an extremely close presidential campaign between Vice President Kamala Harris and Republican former president Donald Trump. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

US President Joe Biden to formally apologise for Indigenous boarding school policy

As Rwanda's capital Kigali is set to host the Commonwealth summit later this week, Foreign Ministers of India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka will be in attendance and while Maldives will be represented at Presidential level, by its President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih. EAM will be in Kigali from 23rd June to 25th of June for the summit.&nbsp;

Pakistan will be represented by Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Hina R Khar. Initially Pakistani foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto was to represent his country, but due to some personal issues he is skipping the mega meet. If FM Bhutto had gone, this would have been for the first time both External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar and Pakistan's new Foreign Minister would have been present at any summit together. Last year EAM Jaishankar and the then Pakistani FM SM Qureshi were present together in Tajikistan's capital Dushanbe for a meet on Afghanistan.

Sri Lankan foreign minister Prof. GL Peiris and Bangladeshi FM AK Momen will also be present, a bilateral with the Indian side cannot be ruled out. Remember over the weekend, Bangladeshi FM was in Delhi for a joint consultative commission meet.&nbsp;

Maldives President's presence is important given that the country rejoined the grouping in 2020. Maldives President Yameen had pulled out of the 54-member grouping in 2016 after the Commonwealth criticised his government over his authoritarian actions back home, like the detention of opposition leaders and undermining the judiciary.&nbsp;

Leaders of Commonwealth countries meet every two years for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM). Since 1971, a total of 24 summits have been held, with the most recent being in British Capital London in 2018. PM Modi had attended the meet that time. The 2015 Commonwealth summit in Malta saw India being represented by the then EAM Sushma Swaraj.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, Rwanda is decked up as the country is ready to welcome the largest gathering of world leaders the African continent has seen in years. For Rwanda's President Paul Kagame it will be a moment to show his country's progress and economic growth. Almost 35 heads of state are expected, while other representations are at the foreign and official levels. Of the 54 countries, 53 are attending with Nauru excusing itself due to elections.&nbsp;

“We expect 35 Heads of State and other high profile guests representing countries and organisations. We will also have First Ladies and in total, we expect over 5,000 people,” said Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of Rwanda Prof. Nshuti Manasseh who was quoted in Rwanda's KT Press.&nbsp;

Brunei is represented by its Sultan, Eswatini by its king Mswati III even though 14 countries will be present at the Presidential level, 17 at the Prime ministerial level, and 10 at the foreign minister-level.&nbsp;

Countries represented at the Prime Minister level include Mauritius by PM Pravind Kumar, the UK by PM Boris Johnson, and Canada by PM Justin Trudeau. Countries represented by the foreign minister level are Malaysia, New Zealand, South Africa, and Malawi. Australia is represented by Deputy PM Richard Marles.&nbsp;

Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) has started on Monday, the official opening takes place on Friday, 24th June and will be followed by main high-level meetings of Heads on Friday &amp; Saturday (24-25 June). The CHOGM summit was due to take place in June of 2020 but was postponed twice due to the COVID pandemic.&nbsp;

The Commonwealth is a group of 54 countries, almost all of them at one pointed under British rule and united by the common use of the English language. The grouping is home to 2.5 billion people and includes a mix of both developed and developing countries. The last country to join the commonwealth is Rwanda.&nbsp;

As Rwanda's capital Kigali is set to host the Commonwealth summit later this week, Foreign Ministers of India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka will be in attendance and while Maldives will be represented at Presidential level, by its President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.

As Rwanda's capital Kigali is set to host the Commonwealth summit later this week, Foreign Ministers of India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka will be in attendance and while Maldives will be represented at Presidential level, by its President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih. EAM will be in Kigali from 23rd June to 25th of June for the summit. Pakistan will be represented by Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Hina R Khar. Initially Pakistani foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto was to represent his country, but due to some personal issues he is skipping the mega meet. If FM Bhutto had gone, this would have been for the first time both External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar and Pakistan's new Foreign Minister would have been present at any summit together. Last year EAM Jaishankar and the then Pakistani FM SM Qureshi were present together in Tajikistan's capital Dushanbe for a meet on Afghanistan. Sri Lankan foreign minister Prof. GL Peiris and Bangladeshi FM AK Momen will also be present, a bilateral with the Indian side cannot be ruled out. Remember over the weekend, Bangladeshi FM was in Delhi for a joint consultative commission meet. Maldives President's presence is important given that the country rejoined the grouping in 2020. Maldives President Yameen had pulled out of the 54-member grouping in 2016 after the Commonwealth criticised his government over his authoritarian actions back home, like the detention of opposition leaders and undermining the judiciary. Leaders of Commonwealth countries meet every two years for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM). Since 1971, a total of 24 summits have been held, with the most recent being in British Capital London in 2018. PM Modi had attended the meet that time. The 2015 Commonwealth summit in Malta saw India being represented by the then EAM Sushma Swaraj. Meanwhile, Rwanda is decked up as the country is ready to welcome the largest gathering of world leaders the African continent has seen in years. For Rwanda's President Paul Kagame it will be a moment to show his country's progress and economic growth. Almost 35 heads of state are expected, while other representations are at the foreign and official levels. Of the 54 countries, 53 are attending with Nauru excusing itself due to elections. “We expect 35 Heads of State and other high profile guests representing countries and organisations. We will also have First Ladies and in total, we expect over 5,000 people,” said Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of Rwanda Prof. Nshuti Manasseh who was quoted in Rwanda's KT Press. Brunei is represented by its Sultan, Eswatini by its king Mswati III even though 14 countries will be present at the Presidential level, 17 at the Prime ministerial level, and 10 at the foreign minister-level. Countries represented at the Prime Minister level include Mauritius by PM Pravind Kumar, the UK by PM Boris Johnson, and Canada by PM Justin Trudeau. Countries represented by the foreign minister level are Malaysia, New Zealand, South Africa, and Malawi. Australia is represented by Deputy PM Richard Marles. Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) has started on Monday, the official opening takes place on Friday, 24th June and will be followed by main high-level meetings of Heads on Friday & Saturday (24-25 June). The CHOGM summit was due to take place in June of 2020 but was postponed twice due to the COVID pandemic. The Commonwealth is a group of 54 countries, almost all of them at one pointed under British rule and united by the common use of the English language. The grouping is home to 2.5 billion people and includes a mix of both developed and developing countries. The last country to join the commonwealth is Rwanda.

India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka FMs, Maldives president to attend Commonwealth Summit in Rwanda

Thirty-four countries, including India, have confirmed their presence at the Commonwealth Summit that will take place in Rwanda later this year.

The CHOGM or Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting has been scheduled to start in the third week of June with President of Rwanda Paul Kagame being the host of the summit.

The Commonwealth is a group of 54 nations which were once part of the British Empire and are connected to each other on the historic ties.

Rwanda's High Commissioner to India Mukangira Jacqueline earlier this week said, “The commonwealth family gives an opportunity to Rwanda to share its knowledge and experience with other member states. CHOGM 2022 is a special occasion for Rwanda as host and incoming chair in the office.”

&nbsp;The key focus areas at the summit will be governance and rule of law, sustainability (economy and environment), health, technology &amp; innovation and youth.

CHOGM summit was due to take place in Rwanda's capital Kigali in June 2020 but has been postponed twice due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Speaking at the British High Commission’s celebration of the Commonwealth Day, the high commissioner highlighted, "Rwanda’s COVID-19 response has been swift and robust. Since the vaccination campaign started in late March 2021, over 95per cent of the adult population has been vaccinated in Kigali and 60 per cent across the country."

The official opening ceremony will be held on June 24 at the Kigali Convention Centre, followed by Heads of Governments Retreat is on the next day at Intare Conference Arena.

Welcome dinner is scheduled on June 26, which will be hosted by Rwanda President Paul Kagame and first lady Jeannette Kagame.

Work is on full swing for the summit. Preparatory meetings have taken place and a protocol guide was shared before the Liaison Committee Meeting that took place on February 22. &nbsp;There are three advance visits organised in March, both physically and virtually.

The last summit of the Commonwealth took place in London in 2018, in which PM Modi had participated. That was the first time that an Indian PM attended such a summit.

Prince Charles had personally visited India to extend an invite to PM Modi for the summit that year. There is no confirmation of PM's participation at the summit this year, but there is an indication that Indian participation could be at a different level.

The UK will be represented by The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall. For the UK, the group is important in a post-Brexit world, while for India it is the platform to reach out to Africa.

Around 19 members of the group are from African countries.&nbsp;Rwanda joined the Commonwealth in 2009 and will be hosting the summit first time.

High Commissioner Jacqueline said, “Although the youngest member of the family, Rwanda’s accession to the Commonwealth in 2009 was an indicator of the appreciation of the progress that Rwanda has made and strides it continues to make towards meeting its development goals, in line with the objectives set out in the Charter of the Commonwealth."

Thirty-four countries, including India, have confirmed their presence at the Commonwealth Summit that will take place in Rwanda later this year. The CHOGM or Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting has been scheduled to start in the third week of June with President of Rwanda Paul Kagame being the host of the summit.

Thirty-four countries, including India, have confirmed their presence at the Commonwealth Summit that will take place in Rwanda later this year. The CHOGM or Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting has been scheduled to start in the third week of June with President of Rwanda Paul Kagame being the host of the summit. The Commonwealth is a group of 54 nations which were once part of the British Empire and are connected to each other on the historic ties. Rwanda's High Commissioner to India Mukangira Jacqueline earlier this week said, “The commonwealth family gives an opportunity to Rwanda to share its knowledge and experience with other member states. CHOGM 2022 is a special occasion for Rwanda as host and incoming chair in the office.” The key focus areas at the summit will be governance and rule of law, sustainability (economy and environment), health, technology & innovation and youth. CHOGM summit was due to take place in Rwanda's capital Kigali in June 2020 but has been postponed twice due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Speaking at the British High Commission’s celebration of the Commonwealth Day, the high commissioner highlighted, "Rwanda’s COVID-19 response has been swift and robust. Since the vaccination campaign started in late March 2021, over 95per cent of the adult population has been vaccinated in Kigali and 60 per cent across the country." The official opening ceremony will be held on June 24 at the Kigali Convention Centre, followed by Heads of Governments Retreat is on the next day at Intare Conference Arena. Welcome dinner is scheduled on June 26, which will be hosted by Rwanda President Paul Kagame and first lady Jeannette Kagame. Work is on full swing for the summit. Preparatory meetings have taken place and a protocol guide was shared before the Liaison Committee Meeting that took place on February 22. There are three advance visits organised in March, both physically and virtually. The last summit of the Commonwealth took place in London in 2018, in which PM Modi had participated. That was the first time that an Indian PM attended such a summit. Prince Charles had personally visited India to extend an invite to PM Modi for the summit that year. There is no confirmation of PM's participation at the summit this year, but there is an indication that Indian participation could be at a different level. The UK will be represented by The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall. For the UK, the group is important in a post-Brexit world, while for India it is the platform to reach out to Africa. Around 19 members of the group are from African countries. Rwanda joined the Commonwealth in 2009 and will be hosting the summit first time. High Commissioner Jacqueline said, “Although the youngest member of the family, Rwanda’s accession to the Commonwealth in 2009 was an indicator of the appreciation of the progress that Rwanda has made and strides it continues to make towards meeting its development goals, in line with the objectives set out in the Charter of the Commonwealth."

34 countries, including India, confirm presence at Commonwealth Summit in Rwanda

By Ambassador Macharia Kamau and Siddharth Chatterjee*

In April 2018, Commonwealth leaders met in a retreat at a royal residence in the English county of Berkshire and agreed on strategies to deepen trade in their 53-member organisation, improve security, tackle climate change, and work together for the betterment of the lives of the people of the Commonwealth. &nbsp;

During the Commonwealth Summit, Kenya received support for its plan to host a High Level Sustainable Blue Economy Conference scheduled to take place from 26-28th November 2018 in Nairobi. Under the theme Blue Economy and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the conference presents an opportune moment for advancing global conversation on both the productive and sustainable side of the blue economy. The conference will lay the case for a sustainable exploitation of the oceans, Seas, rivers and lakes for the economic empowerment of all communities.

Canada stepped forward as a co-host during bilateral talks between President Uhuru Kenyatta and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at Lancaster House, London, on the margins of the Commonwealth Heads of Government (CHOGM) meeting. "Our meeting gives us an opportunity to speak about the great relationship between Kenya and Canada. Canada is pleased with the excellent conference on the blue economy you are hosting and is ready to partner with you," said Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Africa’s economies have continued to post remarkable growth rates, largely driven by the richness of its land-based natural resources. Yet even though 38 of the continent’s 54 states are coastal and 90% of its trade is sea-borne, Africa’s blue potential remains largely untapped. The African Great Lakes constitute the largest proportion of surface freshwater in the world and it is easy to see why the African Union refers to the Blue Economy as the "New Frontier of African Renaissance".

The potential of the blue economy in Africa is largely unexploited due to uneven focus on land as the most important factor of production. While Africa is endowed with large water bodies, the communities living in close proximity to such lakes, seas and oceans in the continent are among the poorest in the region. The realisation of the limitations presented by land as a factor of production in the continent, especially in view of climate change, has necessitated governments and other stakeholders to focus on the immense potential for growth presented by the water resources. A good illustration of Africa’s maritime resources potential is the island nation of Mauritius, one of the smallest countries in the world, which has territorial waters the size of South Africa but has one of the strongest blue economies in Africa, ranking 3rd in per capita income in 2015.

Ironically, the narrative on the continent’s maritime space has for long veered towards the bad news on illegal harvesting, degradation, depletion and maritime insecurity. This narrative is changing gradually, with recent initiatives indicating that countries are looking at full exploitation and management of Africa’s Blue Economy as a potential source of wealth for the continent’s growing population. With forecasts placing the value of maritime-related activities at 2.5 trillion euros per year by 2020, the continent’s hidden treasure could catapult its fortunes.

Kenya is one of several African countries that are formulating strategies to mainstream the Blue Economy in national development plans. Broadly the sub-sectors of the blue economy in Kenya include fisheries & aquaculture, maritime transport & logistics services, extractive industries which include offshore mining of gas & oil, titanium, rare earth (niobium), and culture, tourism and leisure & lifestyle. In the past the country has largely focused on fisheries both for domestic and export markets - a sector that accounts for only about 0.5 per cent of GDP - yet Kenya has a maritime territory of 230,000 square kilometres and 200 nautical miles offshore.

The groundwork for regulatory and policy changes has started, with the Fisheries Management and Development Act 2016 and establishment of the Blue Economy Implementation Committee indicating the government’s intention to utilise its marine resources for economic growth while conserving the same for future generations. The government ban on single use plastic bags is another demonstration of commitment to ensuring plastic waste does not continue to threaten the environment, including marine life. There has also been a move to protect the coral reef, home to one of the world’s most diverse marine eco-systems. &nbsp;

As Africa enjoins itself to a paradigm shift to the blue economy, and looks for pathways towards being at the centre of global trade based on the Blue Economy, rather than just the supplier of unprocessed raw materials, among the greatest hurdles will be responsible management, so that the wealth generation is inclusive and ecologically sound. To achieve this, countries must importantly work on current conflicts that are driven by lack of demarcation of maritime and aquatic boundaries. This has been a constant source of tensions between neighbouring countries, not only threating any long-term investment considerations, but also leading to irresponsible use of resources.

With the potential gains from the Blue Economy, states have no option but to fast-track resolution of disputes and strengthen their maritime and riparian cooperation mechanisms. This will provide grounds for working on interstate economies of scale and develop strategies for bridging technical and infrastructure gaps among states.

In line with SDG 14, development of this sector must also promote social inclusion while ensuring environmental sustainability. In this respect, the continent owes special consideration to people living along the shores of oceans, lakes and rivers, essentially youth and women. The question of how this “new frontier” can address poverty reduction and hunger when leaving no one behind must be a central consideration.

Sadly, global citizens have already demonstrated considerable recklessness in managing land-based resources. The relatively untouched frontier of Blue Economy must be handled with the highest environmental stewardship and social responsibility.

Kenya and Canada are committed to this and the United Nations family is fully in support of this important initiative which could leapfrog Kenya’s and indeed the world’s economic growth.

*(Ambassador Macharia Kamau is the Principal Secretary for Foreign Affairs of Kenya) 
(Siddharth Chatterjee is the UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative in Kenya.)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Africa’s economies have continued to post remarkable growth rates, largely driven by the richness of its land-based natural resources.

By Ambassador Macharia Kamau and Siddharth Chatterjee* In April 2018, Commonwealth leaders met in a retreat at a royal residence in the English county of Berkshire and agreed on strategies to deepen trade in their 53-member organisation, improve security, tackle climate change, and work together for the betterment of the lives of the people of the Commonwealth. During the Commonwealth Summit, Kenya received support for its plan to host a High Level Sustainable Blue Economy Conference scheduled to take place from 26-28th November 2018 in Nairobi. Under the theme Blue Economy and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the conference presents an opportune moment for advancing global conversation on both the productive and sustainable side of the blue economy. The conference will lay the case for a sustainable exploitation of the oceans, Seas, rivers and lakes for the economic empowerment of all communities. Canada stepped forward as a co-host during bilateral talks between President Uhuru Kenyatta and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at Lancaster House, London, on the margins of the Commonwealth Heads of Government (CHOGM) meeting. "Our meeting gives us an opportunity to speak about the great relationship between Kenya and Canada. Canada is pleased with the excellent conference on the blue economy you are hosting and is ready to partner with you," said Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Africa’s economies have continued to post remarkable growth rates, largely driven by the richness of its land-based natural resources. Yet even though 38 of the continent’s 54 states are coastal and 90% of its trade is sea-borne, Africa’s blue potential remains largely untapped. The African Great Lakes constitute the largest proportion of surface freshwater in the world and it is easy to see why the African Union refers to the Blue Economy as the "New Frontier of African Renaissance". The potential of the blue economy in Africa is largely unexploited due to uneven focus on land as the most important factor of production. While Africa is endowed with large water bodies, the communities living in close proximity to such lakes, seas and oceans in the continent are among the poorest in the region. The realisation of the limitations presented by land as a factor of production in the continent, especially in view of climate change, has necessitated governments and other stakeholders to focus on the immense potential for growth presented by the water resources. A good illustration of Africa’s maritime resources potential is the island nation of Mauritius, one of the smallest countries in the world, which has territorial waters the size of South Africa but has one of the strongest blue economies in Africa, ranking 3rd in per capita income in 2015. Ironically, the narrative on the continent’s maritime space has for long veered towards the bad news on illegal harvesting, degradation, depletion and maritime insecurity. This narrative is changing gradually, with recent initiatives indicating that countries are looking at full exploitation and management of Africa’s Blue Economy as a potential source of wealth for the continent’s growing population. With forecasts placing the value of maritime-related activities at 2.5 trillion euros per year by 2020, the continent’s hidden treasure could catapult its fortunes. Kenya is one of several African countries that are formulating strategies to mainstream the Blue Economy in national development plans. Broadly the sub-sectors of the blue economy in Kenya include fisheries & aquaculture, maritime transport & logistics services, extractive industries which include offshore mining of gas & oil, titanium, rare earth (niobium), and culture, tourism and leisure & lifestyle. In the past the country has largely focused on fisheries both for domestic and export markets - a sector that accounts for only about 0.5 per cent of GDP - yet Kenya has a maritime territory of 230,000 square kilometres and 200 nautical miles offshore. The groundwork for regulatory and policy changes has started, with the Fisheries Management and Development Act 2016 and establishment of the Blue Economy Implementation Committee indicating the government’s intention to utilise its marine resources for economic growth while conserving the same for future generations. The government ban on single use plastic bags is another demonstration of commitment to ensuring plastic waste does not continue to threaten the environment, including marine life. There has also been a move to protect the coral reef, home to one of the world’s most diverse marine eco-systems. As Africa enjoins itself to a paradigm shift to the blue economy, and looks for pathways towards being at the centre of global trade based on the Blue Economy, rather than just the supplier of unprocessed raw materials, among the greatest hurdles will be responsible management, so that the wealth generation is inclusive and ecologically sound. To achieve this, countries must importantly work on current conflicts that are driven by lack of demarcation of maritime and aquatic boundaries. This has been a constant source of tensions between neighbouring countries, not only threating any long-term investment considerations, but also leading to irresponsible use of resources. With the potential gains from the Blue Economy, states have no option but to fast-track resolution of disputes and strengthen their maritime and riparian cooperation mechanisms. This will provide grounds for working on interstate economies of scale and develop strategies for bridging technical and infrastructure gaps among states. In line with SDG 14, development of this sector must also promote social inclusion while ensuring environmental sustainability. In this respect, the continent owes special consideration to people living along the shores of oceans, lakes and rivers, essentially youth and women. The question of how this “new frontier” can address poverty reduction and hunger when leaving no one behind must be a central consideration. Sadly, global citizens have already demonstrated considerable recklessness in managing land-based resources. The relatively untouched frontier of Blue Economy must be handled with the highest environmental stewardship and social responsibility. Kenya and Canada are committed to this and the United Nations family is fully in support of this important initiative which could leapfrog Kenya’s and indeed the world’s economic growth. *(Ambassador Macharia Kamau is the Principal Secretary for Foreign Affairs of Kenya) (Siddharth Chatterjee is the UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative in Kenya.) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Opinion: Harnessing the blue economy must consider social inclusion and responsible stewardship