Vice President Lucia Witbooi highlighted the blue economy as key to growth, urging shared sustainability efforts in Namibia’s aquatic-rich environment.

Speaking at a roundtable in Nairobi, Witbooi called for industrial transformation to start where resources are found, emphasizing value addition over raw extraction.

She stated, “For too long, the value chain of African resources has followed an unequal pattern. Africa must no longer remain only a supplier of raw materials, but must become a driver of beneficiation, industrialization, innovation, and equitable economic growth. We must change that equation.”

She noted that Africa’s blue economy is valued at nearly US$5 trillion, yet about 70% of African fish exports leave the continent with minimal processing, limiting jobs and industrial growth.

Namibia aims to increase secondary and tertiary processing to 60% by 2030 under the 6th National Development Plan.

Witbooi added, “Africa must drive industrialisation and innovation. We have a Franco-Namibian Marine Institute with French partners to train thousands in shipbuilding, aquaculture, and marine robotics by 2030. This is the kind of partnership that will bring about structural changes in the blue economy ecosystem in Namibia and the region.”