• Experts call for investment-ready blue economy projects

Africa’s future as a competitive maritime and Blue Economy powerhouse will depend less on the abundance of its ocean resources and more on its ability to develop investment-ready, environmentally sustainable and commercially viable projects, leading Blue Economy expert, Dr. Felicia Chinwe Mogo, has said.

Speaking during a high-level international webinar ahead of the Strategic Green Maritime and Blue Economy Executive Management Training Workshop scheduled for October in Accra, Ghana, Dr. Mogo urged African governments and private sector stakeholders to move beyond policy rhetoric and adopt Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) principles as the foundation for unlocking sustainable investment and economic growth across the continent’s maritime sector.

The virtual engagement brought together policymakers, regulators, investors, development practitioners and maritime professionals from across Africa as part of a strategic pre-workshop knowledge series designed to prepare participants for the October 14–16, 2026 Executive Management Training Workshop themed “Navigating the Future of Maritime Sustainability for African Development.”

The webinar built on the momentum generated during the inaugural session, led by renowned maritime policy expert, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, who argued that Green Maritime should be viewed not merely as a regulatory obligation but as a strategic business imperative capable of enhancing competitiveness and long-term industry resilience.

While the first session challenged governments and industry leaders to rethink Africa’s maritime future, the latest engagement focused on translating that vision into practical, investable projects through ESG-driven governance, strategic partnerships and commercially sustainable business models.

Opening the webinar, Professor Chidi Magnus Onuoha, a United Nations-accredited expert and professor of climate change and green economics, described the Blue Economy as Africa’s next major frontier for economic transformation.

According to him, the continent possesses enormous untapped marine resources capable of driving inclusive economic growth, industrialisation and job creation if managed sustainably.

Delivering the keynote presentation, Dr. Mogo, an internationally recognised authority on marine environmental governance and Blue Economy development, argued that the Blue Economy should no longer be regarded as a collection of individual sectors but as an integrated development platform linking environmental stewardship, investment, innovation and economic prosperity.

“Environmental, Social and Governance frameworks are no longer optional; they are becoming the language of investment,” she said.

“Countries and businesses that fail to integrate ESG into their maritime development strategies risk being left behind in the emerging global Blue Economy.”

She noted that investors are increasingly prioritising projects with strong governance structures, environmental responsibility and measurable social impact, making ESG integration essential for attracting finance into ports, shipping, fisheries, coastal infrastructure, marine tourism and other ocean-based industries.

According to Dr. Mogo, sustainable Blue Economy development will depend on close collaboration among governments, private investors, development institutions and coastal communities, with each stakeholder playing complementary roles in creating economic value while safeguarding marine ecosystems.

She urged African governments to move beyond fragmented infrastructure projects and embrace integrated business models capable of generating multiple revenue streams, creating quality jobs and attracting long-term capital.

Drawing lessons from countries such as Seychelles and Indonesia, Dr. Mogo highlighted how sound governance, strategic planning and ESG-aligned financing have enabled nations to mobilise innovative funding instruments, including Blue Bonds, while strengthening ocean resilience and improving economic competitiveness.

She maintained that Africa possesses similar opportunities but must improve project preparation, institutional coordination and investment readiness to unlock sustainable financing at scale.

The webinar also explored how governments and businesses can convert policy ambitions into commercially viable maritime ventures.

Participants agreed that ESG-centred governance, disciplined project structuring and multi-stakeholder collaboration provide the practical pathway for transforming Africa’s marine resources into bankable investments capable of attracting development finance and private capital.

One of the major outcomes of the session was a proposal to dedicate a specialised segment of the October Executive Management Workshop to helping participants develop bankable Blue Economy projects.

The session will enable participants to work directly with an international consortium of experts to identify viable maritime investment opportunities, strengthen ESG integration, structure commercially sustainable projects, develop financing strategies and improve implementation frameworks.

Governments, businesses, entrepreneurs and project developers will also have the opportunity to present live projects for technical review, refinement and strategic guidance from leading Blue Economy specialists.

Speaking at the close of the webinar, moderator and Convener, Sam Nwosu, described the initiative as a deliberate transition from thought leadership to practical implementation.

“The webinar series has been intentionally designed as a strategic learning journey,” he said.

“Our inaugural session established Green Maritime as a strategic business imperative and a source of competitive advantage. This second engagement has focused on the governance, investment and business frameworks required to translate that vision into commercially viable opportunities.

“By October, participants will move beyond theory to practical project development—equipped with the tools, expert guidance and strategic partnerships needed to structure bankable projects, mobilise investment and deliver measurable impact.”

Participants described the webinar as a timely intervention that underscored the importance of visionary leadership, innovation, institutional capacity and strategic partnerships in positioning Africa’s maritime sector for sustainable growth and global competitiveness.

The October Executive Management Training Workshop is expected to bring together policymakers, regulators, maritime authorities, development finance institutions, investors, academics and private sector leaders from across the continent for executive-level training, live project clinics and practical case studies aimed at accelerating sustainable maritime transformation.

Organisers said the pre-workshop webinar series has evolved beyond a platform for dialogue into a growing continental community of practice committed to repositioning Africa’s maritime sector as an investment-ready, sustainability-driven engine of economic growth.

From establishing Green Maritime as a strategic business imperative to embedding ESG principles into governance and investment frameworks and advancing the development of bankable Blue Economy projects, the initiative is laying the intellectual, institutional and commercial foundations for a new era of African maritime leadership.