Maritime ministers, regulators and industry leaders from more than 40 African countries gathered in Monrovia this week for the 8th Association of African Maritime Administrations (AAMA) conference to map out strategies for protecting a blue economy projected to generate more than $400 billion annually and create 12 million jobs by 2030.
Held at the EJS Ministerial Complex under the theme “Safeguarding Our Ocean, Promoting Decarbonization in Shipping and Exploring Africa’s Blue Economy Potential,” the conference focused on the commercial and security foundations required to unlock investment across shipping, ports, fisheries and ocean-based industries.
Cllr. Neto Zarzar Lighe Sr., Commissioner/CEO of the Liberia Maritime Authority, urged collective action on transnational risks that threaten commerce and investment, including piracy, illegal fishing, infrastructure gaps and environmental degradation.
“AAMA provides the framework for Africa to collaborate and emerge as a maritime powerhouse,” he said, framing cooperation as a prerequisite for private-sector confidence and cross-border trade growth.
Delivering a keynote on behalf of President Joseph Boakai, Acting Minister of State for Presidential Affairs Samuel A. Stevquoah warned that the continent’s economic potential is at risk from maritime crime, cybersecurity threats and climate change unless governments and industry coordinate on enforcement, financing and capacity-building.
Speakers stressed practical business measures to translate ocean potential into investment-ready opportunities: harmonized legal and regulatory regimes to reduce transaction costs and boost intra-African trade; port competitiveness to attract shipping lines and logistics providers; and targeted financing and capacity-building to scale private-sector participation.
The Director General of the Kenya Maritime Authority, who chairs AAMA, urged members to “speak with one voice” in continental policymaking to create predictable conditions for investors.
The International Maritime Organization’s Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez, speaking from London, reinforced calls for global harmonization across trade facilitation, safety, security and decarbonization — all factors that influence shipping costs and the commercial viability of Africa’s maritime corridor.
Decarbonization of shipping, delegates noted, presents both a compliance challenge and an investment opportunity in green fuels, port infrastructure and retrofits.
Monrovia’s hosting carries symbolic and commercial weight: Liberia operates one of the world’s largest ship registries, and government officials framed the meeting as a chance to deepen maritime diplomacy and attract related businesses to the region.
Delegates included leaders from NIMASA, parliamentary maritime committees, development partners and embassy representatives, underscoring the multi-stakeholder nature of blue-economy development.
On the finance and security front, Essam M. Alammari of Saudi Arabia announced a $200,000 contribution to the West and Central Africa Maritime Security Trust Fund, signaling donor interest in stabilizing maritime zones to reduce insurance and security costs for operators.
Delegates said similar trust and investment mechanisms will be critical to derisk private capital and scale port and fisheries projects.
Conference organizers expect outcomes to include harmonized regulatory recommendations, commitments to capacity-building and new financing pledges aimed at accelerating port upgrades, maritime safety, and climate-resilient infrastructure.
For investors and shipping stakeholders, the Monrovia meeting sought to turn headline figures — $400 billion and 12 million jobs into bankable projects by aligning policy, security and financing across the continent.
