WINDHOEK, FEB 10 – Alongside a select group of twenty Heads of State and Government, President Hage G. Geingob will, at the invitation of the French President, His Excellency Emmanuel Macron, participate in the First Edition of the One Ocean Summit taking place in Brest, Brittany on February 9-11, 2022, with the High-Level segment scheduled for February 11.
Held in the context of the French Presidency of the Council of theEuropean Union with the support of the United Nations, the One Ocean Summit aims to mobilize the international community to take tangible action towards preserving and supporting a healthy and sustainable ocean.
As a country with a coastline that stretches over 1572 kilometers and one that depends heavily on the blue economy and marine resources, Namibia has an obligation to act and protect the ocean and ensure sustainability for current and future generations. Namibia has made significant progress in putting up efforts to raise awareness on the importance of sustainable development of the blue economy and is in her last stage of developing a Sustainable Blue Economy Policy. The
objectives of the Policy are to effectively protect, maintain and restore the diversity, productivity, resilience and intrinsic value of Namibia’s marine and aquatic ecosystems.
In that vein, President Geingob, who is since 2018 a member of the Oceans Panel convened by the Kingdom of Norway
will deliver a statement outlining Namibia’s vision of Global Governance of the Oceans, alongside President Emmanuel Macron of the French Republic and the President of the Council of the European Union, H.E Charles Michel.
The President will then proceed to Brussels, Belgium to participate in the 6th AU–EU Summit taking place from February 17-18, 2022. The AU–EU Summit follows the 5th AU-EU Summit held in 2017 in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire and the Ministerial Meeting held in Kigali, Rwanda in October 2021.
The 2022 AU-EU Summit presents an opportunity for a renewed and deeper AU-EU partnership as African and European Leaders meet to determine joint priorities and better coordination for their common future. It aims to among others, provide strategic guidance on new areas of cooperation, including a strong focus on Financing post-Covid-19 economic recovery in Africa; Agriculture and Sustainable Development; Digital Inclusion; Peace and Security; the current Covid-19 health pandemic and climate change. In addition to trade and development, the Summit will also seek to mobilize the international private sector to support Africa’s economic recovery.
President Geingob will undertake a number of engagements with Heads of State and Government, including bilateral meetings with King Philippe of Belgium at the Royal Palace, Prime Minister Kiril Petkov of Bulgaria and Prime Minister Mark Rutte of the Netherlands. The President will, together with Belgium Prime Minister Alexander De Croo visit
Europe’s second largest seaport, the Port of Antwerp, following which an addendum to the existing memorandum of understanding on energy and green hydrogen between Namibia and Belgium is anticipated to be signed.
Within the framework of Namibia’s economic and energy diplomacy for investment attraction and job creation, President Geingob, has been requested to serve as Chair of the Africa Renewable Energy Initiative (AREI) following the departure of the former President of the Republic of Guinea, H.E Alpha Conde. The President will also undertake a guided tour of the world’s first refueling station that produces green hydrogen – CMB.TECH H2 Refueling Station in Antwerp.
Additionally, the President will visit the Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC), followed by a meeting with that Board. – Namibian Presidency
