Zakia Driouch, Secretary of State to the Minister of Agriculture, Maritime Fisheries, Rural Development, Water and Forests in charge of Maritime Fisheries, participated in the opening session of the third edition of the “Blue Africa” Summit, held in Tangier under the patronage of King Mohammed VI under the theme: “Charter for a Sustainable Blue Africa.”

The summit was organized by the Moroccan Royal Academy in partnership with the Ocean Blue Organization and serves as a key platform for collective reflection aimed at enhancing Africa’s role within the global blue economy. It is part of the international momentum launched by the United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3 – Nice 2025).

In her opening speech, the Secretary of State recalled the achievements made by the Kingdom of Morocco in sustainability, ocean governance, and laying the foundations of the blue economy, thanks to the visionary leadership of King Mohammed VI.

She also highlighted the importance of implemented projects, foremost among them the execution of the “EUTIS” strategy, the establishment of marine protected areas, maritime spatial planning, combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, and adopting a national roadmap for the blue economy. These initiatives embody the will to reconcile economic development with the preservation of marine ecosystems.

Driouch emphasized that this national vision aligns with the African and international momentum marked by several key milestones in 2025, including the imminent entry into force of the “BBNJ” agreement, the activation of the World Trade Organization agreement on fisheries subsidies, and participation in the United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3) in Nice. These achievements reflect the international community’s engagement and confirm Africa’s growing status in ocean governance, calling for strengthening its role and leadership in this field.

In this context, the Secretary of State recalled that the “Charter for a Sustainable Blue Africa,” presented during the United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice last June, is a purely African initiative aimed at giving the continent a strong and credible voice in the global ocean governance system.

The Tangier summit is a key milestone in the African mobilization process aimed at transforming marine wealth into a lever for development and regional cooperation, with the participation of decision-makers, experts, and civil society representatives, with a view to enhancing African integration within the global blue economy.