The Africa Blue Economy Roundtable (ABER) has commended the Korea Maritime Institute (KMI) and South Korea’s Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries for sponsoring an international ocean governance training programme involving its members.

Dr Piriye Kiyaramo, ABER Convener and Chairman, described the participation of the members as a significant milestone in building Africa’s capacity for sustainable ocean resource management.

The three-week programme is holding at the Yeosu Academy of the Law of the Sea in South Korea, with participants drawn from 30 countries across Asia, the Pacific, Latin America and coastal African states.

Kiyaramo said the training would strengthen African expertise in maritime governance, marine resource management and the emerging green shipping industry.

He said the programme covered smart and environmentally friendly maritime operations, vessel technology, marine spatial planning, ocean energy and sustainable fisheries management.

According to him, the initiative aligns with ABER’s mandate to advance the African Union’s Blue Economy Strategy and Agenda 2063.

He said it would help build a critical mass of African experts equipped to manage ocean resources sustainably.

“The platform creates a strategic bridge between Africa and Korea, opening doors for institutional linkages, joint research, student exchange and future partnerships with KMI, Korea Maritime and Ocean University and other Korean maritime institutions,” he said.

Kiyaramo added that the knowledge acquired would support the establishment and strengthening of ABER’s proposed Blue Economy Research Hubs in strategic locations across African universities.

He said the participation of ABER members positioned Africa as an active stakeholder in global ocean governance and the development of green shipping.

Kiyaramo made the remarks during a virtual exchange with ABER’s National Coordinator for Cameroon, Engr. Mrs Orock Joan Afangah, who is participating in the programme.

He congratulated the participants on their representation of the organisation and urged them to apply the knowledge gained to advance Africa’s blue economy.

Afangah said the training was an Official Development Assistance initiative of the South Korean Government designed to build the capacity of maritime professionals, policymakers and researchers from developing countries.

The curriculum covers territorial sea and Exclusive Economic Zone management, fisheries management, continental shelf boundaries and the operations of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea.

Other areas include maritime security, freedom of navigation, marine environmental protection, scientific research, Arctic governance and biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction.

Participants are also studying submarine cable protection, deep-seabed mineral regulation, autonomous ships, maritime law enforcement and mechanisms for resolving overlapping maritime claims.

The programme features lectures, workshops, examinations and field trips, including a yachting excursion and a visit to the Korea Coast Guard Training Centre.

Participants include government officials, researchers, ocean policy professionals, academics and graduate students from developing countries.

Among the ABER representatives attending the training is its West Africa Regional Facilitator, Capt. Noah Isa Amwe