PROGRAM
PROGRAM
NOR-SHIPPING AFRICA CONFERENCE
Theme: Unlocking the full potentials of Africa's blue economy
Venue: Svalbard, Hall A2, Norway Trade Fairs, Messeveien 8, 2004 Lillestrøm
TIME
EVENT
08.00 - 08.30
Arrivals and registration
08.30 - 09.00
09.00 - 11.00
Opening Session
Sub-themes: 1. Affirming high-level commitment for the development of Africa’s blue economy, 2. Identifying the key challenges facing Africa’s blue economy, 3. Setting the right priorities for the future development of Africa’s blue economy, 4. Ensuring continuity for high-level initiatives related to Africa’s blue economy.
09.00 - 09.05
Opening remarks by the Moderator – Mrs. Natalie Becker-Aakervik (Norwegian-African TV and Radio presenter)
09.05 - 09.15
09.15 - 09.25
09.25 - 09.30
09.30 - 09.35
09.35 - 09.45
09.45 - 10.30
10.30 - 11.00
11.00 - 13.00
Creating an enabling framework for the development of Africa's Blue Economy - with lessons learnt from the Nairobi Sustainable Blue Economy Conference (SBEC) in November 2018
11.00 - 11.05
11.05 - 11.50
11.50 - 12.25
12.25 - 13.00
13.00 - 14.00
14.00 - 16.00
Session 3: The role of the private sector in the development of Africa's Blue Economy
14.00 - 14.05
14.05 - 14.45
14.45 - 15.15
Tea and Coffee break
14.15 - 15.55
16.00
Closure of the Nor-Shipping Africa Conference
17.15
18.00 - 20.30
Nor-Shipping Africa Evening Reception
- Sophus Lies gate 5. 0264 Frogner, Oslo.
The reception will be hosted by the Embassies of Morocco and South Africa in Norway and supported by OCP of Morocco.
TO REGISTER FOR THE EVENING RECEPTION, VISIT THE LINK:
20.30
CLOSURE
THURSDAY JUNE 6TH
09.00 - 10.30
Gender Mainstreaming and Seafaring: A Call For Collective Action
- Thon Hotel Arena, Nesgata 1, 2004 Lillestrøm, Room: Hordaland
Today, women represent only two percent of the world’s 1.2 million seafarers. To address the gender gap in the maritime, ports, fishing and related industries, “Empowering Women in the Maritime Community” has been selected as the World Maritime Day (WMD) theme for 2019. The selection of this theme provides an opportunity to raise awareness of the importance of gender equality, in line with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Within this historically male dominated industry, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has been making concerted efforts to assist the industry move forward and support women to achieve a fair representation that is in keeping with the twenty-first century expectations.
IMO is strongly committed to assisting its Member States achieve the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 5 “Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls” and SDG 14 “Life below water”.
Women are increasingly present at sea. Their full and meaningful participation in the economy, political decision-making and society is key to addressing maritime challenges. The maritime sector needs ‘all hands-on deck’, both male and female, if it is to take on the challenges of carrying the world’s goods in an efficient, safe, secure and clean manner.
Throughout 2019 there will be a strong emphasis in the maritime world on the importance and value of women within the professional ranks. Much of this is being driven by this year’s WMD theme, which has a very strong and far-reaching resonance globally. It provides an opportunity to highlight the important contribution of women all over the world to the maritime sector, as well as the contributions they are already making in a wide range of maritime careers and professions.
During this special session, presentations will be made by expert panelists who will share their experiences and discuss and answer the following question: If you could make just one change to improve diversity in seafaring, what would that change be? The Panelists will also address specific questions, including on views on how to make meaningful progress, and subsequently engage in a moderated conversation. The audience will be provided with the opportunity to interact with the Panelists through the Moderator.
The intention of the session is to sensitize all stakeholders towards inclusion of women in maritime and make maritime more diverse. In an effort to build greater oceans and gender literacy and discover possible avenues to promote gender equality – which would reinforce the sustainable governance of the oceans.
Organized By
10.30 - 12.30
Nigerian Shipping and Maritime Business Forum
- Thon Hotel Arena, Nesgata 1, 2004 Lillestrøm, Room: Hordaland
Background: As Nigeria’s apex regulatory and promotional maritime agency, NIMASA has a strong incentive to present the country’s shipping and maritime sectors in the best possible light outside the Nation’s borders. Nor-Shipping is a bi-annual event that attracts key maritime industry players from across the world to Norway. It is therefore appropriate that Nigeria’s transport and maritime sectors were well represented during Nor-Shipping. A short seminar / side event organized by NIMASA to showcase relevant developments in the Nigerian shipping and maritime ecosystem is a step in the right direction.
Objectives of the event:
- To present the most recent and relevant policy and regulatory developments within Nigeria’s transport, shipping and maritime sectors.
- To showcase business and investment opportunities in Nigeria’s transport, shipping and maritime sectors.
- To develop business contacts and to establish strong and sustainable relationships for NIMASA in the Nordic market.
- To invite a business delegation comprised of Norwegian business executives to visit Nigeria for fact-finding purposes and for direct meetings with their Nigerian counterparts.
Tentative Program
10:30
Tea & Coffee Served
11:00
11:05
11:15
11:25
Panelists:
Dr. Dakuku Peterside, DG/CEO, NIMASA.
Mr. Sokonte Davies, Executive Director Marine & Operations, Nigerian Ports Authority
Sen. Dr. Adeleke Mamora, MD/CEO, National Inland Waterways Authority
Sen. Ahmed Ogembe, Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on Marine Transport
Mr. Jens-Petter Kjemprud, Ambassador, Royal Norwegian Embassy, Abuja.
Moderator:
Mr. Adekola Oyenuga, Founder, AO Blue Economy & Energy Consulting
11:55
Audience Q&A
12:15
Closing Remarks
12:20
Lunch & Networking
Organized By
TO REGISTER FOR THE NIGERIAN SHIPPING AND MARITIME BUSINESS FORUM, VISIT THE LINK:
THE PROGRAM FOR
AFRICA@NORSHIPPING 2019
The program during Africa@Nor-Shipping 2019 will feature the following three key aspects:
The Africa Exhibition Pavilion
- The Africa Exhibition Pavilion will provide a platform to showcase Africa’s leading entities and countries in the Ocean and Blue Economy (BE) sectors. The exhibition pavilion will open windows of opportunity for industry actors to identify, explore and strenghten collaborations between Africa and Norway/the Nordic region in the Ocean and BE sectors.
- There is a total space of 100sqm allocated to the Africa Pavilion and this will be allotted to interested parties on a first-come, first served basis.
- Exhibitors in the Africa pavilion during Nor-Shipping 2017 were: the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA); the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA); the Kenya Maritime Authority (KMA); VTT Maritime and Bollore Logistics.
- Information on how to book a stand in the Africa pavilion during is available via the following link: https://www.aoec-norshipping.com/book-a-stand/
The Africa@Nor-Shipping Conference
- The Africa@Nor-Shipping 2019 conference will provide an arena to match Norway’s ocean and BE expertise with the enormous growth potential and forward leaning business climate of the African continent in these areas.
- The conference will cover insights from leading profiles across a span of segments and fields, and from various regions within the African continent. It will provide an excellent platform to explore current hot topics within the African and global maritime and ocean sectors, as well as in the energy industry.
- The conference will also provide an arena for introducing the African Union’s Blue Economy strategy and for exploring areas of co-operation between the AU and Norway on the Blue Economy, in alignment with the strategic partnership agreement signed between the AU and Norway in 2015. [1]
The Africa@Nor-Shipping meeting spaces
- The Africa@Nor-Shipping meeting spaces will facilitate meeting opportunities at the bilateral/inter-state and B2B levels. It will create an enabling environment for African delegations and companies to engage with Norwegian and other international actors from the public and private sectors, thereby opening for the joint identification and promotion of mutually beneficial collaborations.
- The deliberate creation of spaces for bilateral meetings as part of the Africa@Nor-Shipping 2019 program is motivated by the following considerations:
- Norway is rightfully viewed in many parts of the world to be a leader in the competence and know-how about how to sustainably develop and harness Ocean and BE resources for the benefit of current and future generations. This competence will be beneficial to the recently established BE division of the AU and to other AU member states that wish to establish similar divisions/units;
- Norway, along with the EFTA States of Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland signed a Joint Declaration on Cooperation with Nigeria in Buenos Aires, Argentina on December 12, 2017. Notable amongst the Areas of Cooperation outlined in the declaration’s Article II were: “(f) Trade and Sustainable Development; and (i) any other areas of cooperation as may be mutually agreed upon by Nigeria and the EFTA States.” This declaration therefore provides ample room for follow-up discussions between Norwegian and Nigerian actors with regards to exploring joint initiatives to promote trade and the sustainable development of the Ocean and BE sectors. The bilateral meetings during Africa@Nor-Shipping 2019 will provide an opportune space for this purpose.
- Against the backdrop of the African Continental Free Trade Area(AfCFTA) framework, signed on March 21, 2018 by 44 African heads of state and government in Kigali, Rwanda on the initiative of the African Union (AU), Africa@Nor-Shipping 2019 will provide an initial or exploratory space for expanding the EFTA agreement with Nigeria to include the entirety/portions of the AfCFTA.
- In addition to meetings between sovereign actors, bilateral/multilateral meetings between public and private sector organizations from Norway, the Nordic region and other geographies, with African counterparts or potential collaborators, will also be accommodated.
Themes for Africa@Nor-Shipping 2019
Africa@Nor-Shipping 2019 will adopt the following core themes:
- How can Africa effectively harness its Ocean and BE potential while simultaneously promoting Intra-African Trade?
- How can Africa’s BE benefit from partnerships with its counterparts in Norway/the Nordic region and the rest of the world?
- How can Africa promote investment in its BE and the related infrastructure?
Some additional suggested topics are listed below:
- Coastal shipping/ cabotage opportunities in Sub-Sahara Africa
- Building vessels for the African market – opportunities for green technology
- Port development in Sub-Saharan Africa and beyond: Expansion/ new ports/ modernization focused on smart and green ports
- South Africa and Norway taking the lead in combating plastics in the ocean. How can this be translated into business opportunities?
- Maritime security in Africa.
Objectives of the program
Africa@Nor-Shipping 2019 will have the following objectives:
- To assemble African and Nordic/global players to explore business and investment opportunities in Africa’s Ocean and BE sectors;
- To showcase ongoing activity in Africa’s BE through a 100sqm Africa Exhibition Pavilion that will be allocated on a first-come-first-served basis to African countries, organizations and private companies;
- To profile and discuss issues relevant to the development of Africa’s BE and its contribution to Intra-African trade;
- To provide a platform for bilateral meetings between delegations from African countries and their Norwegian/Nordic counterparts on issues related to the BE and maritime sectors;
- To provide a platform for B2B meetings on the development of sustainable business opportunities in Africa’s BE and maritime sectors.
Guidance behind the program
Notes & Sources
[1] The strategic partnership agreement between the African Union and Norway was signed on the 26th of January 2015 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, by the Chairperson of the African Union Commission Ms. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma and Norway’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Børge Brende. The agreement broadened the existing cooperation between the AU and Norway and strengthened Norway’s engagement with the AU, particularly in matters relating to peace and security. The agreement covers three main areas of cooperation: (1) Peace and security; (2) Democracy and governance; and (3) Sustainable development and job creation. Norway and the AU will also cooperate on the challenges identified in Africa’s own development strategy – Agenda 2063.
Source: https://www.regjeringen.no/en/aktuelt/strategic_partnership/id2363711/.
Consultations are also underway to strengthen cooperation between the AU and Norway on the Blue Economy and maritime issues.
[2] Agenda 2063. The Africa We Want – Framework Document, see: https://au.int/en/agenda2063
[3] For further details on the 2050 AIM-Strategy please see: http://cggrps.org/wp-content/uploads/2050-AIM-Strategy_EN.pdf, accessed on 04/5/2018, 13.32.
[4] A Plan of Action covering the period 2008 – 2010 was initially adopted in Abuja, Nigeria, on 23 February 2007 by the African Ministers responsible for Maritime Transport, at their First Conference organized by the African Union. This Plan of Action constituted a road map primarily aimed at outlining the global objectives pursued in the bid to improve African maritime transport, the major activities or actions identified for attaining the objectives, the measures of output, and the lead and other institutions responsible for the implementation of the activities detailed in the Action Plan. The Plan of Action was reviewed and updated in the Conference of Ministers responsible for Transport held in Algiers, Algeria from 21 – 25 April 2008, and was further reviewed to cover the period 2009 – 2012 at the Second African Union Conference of Ministers responsible for Maritime Transport held in Durban, South Africa from 12 – 16 October 2009.
[5] See the revised African Maritime Transport charter, https://au.int/en/treaties/revised-african-maritime-transport-charter, accessed 04/5/2018, 13.34.
[6] The Lomé Charter is a new strategic guideline with the view to coordinating specific actions between AU member States across the continent to secure the oceans and seas by combating piracy, arms trafficking and the smuggling of human beings on the Africa’s coastlines. The expected benefit of the Charter is the creation of a geostrategic framework to enhance the cooperation of the AU’s member States in the maritime domain.