Kenya is actively pursuing a strengthened partnership with China to advance its blue economy, focusing on the sustainable use of marine resources and the development of fisheries.
In a recent meeting with Huawei, the Cabinet Secretary for Mining, Blue Economy, and Maritime Affairs, Hassan Joho, expressed his ministry’s keen interest in introducing modern technology from China to enhance these three sectors.
“I had a productive meeting with the Huawei Kenya team led by Deputy CEO Steven Zhang, touching on possible deployment of cutting-edge technology for modernizing processes and improving service delivery in the mining, blue economy, and maritime sector,” he stated.
Joho highlighted Kenya’s eagerness to collaborate with Chinese entities to develop its fisheries and maritime infrastructure, as well as modernize local fish farming.
“This collaboration includes equipping local fishermen with better vessels and equipment to enable deep-sea fishing, addressing challenges faced by artisanal fishermen who often rely on traditional boats,” the CS noted.
During the meeting at Joho’s office in Nairobi, Blue Economy Principal Secretary Betsy Njagi disclosed that senior officials from the ministry and the Chinese delegation exchanged ideas on how to turn this collaboration into reality.
She reiterated that “cultivating viable partnerships through modern technology is essential for leveraging the blue economy sector to effectively contribute to the country’s economic development.”
Geoffrey Kaituko, her counterpart in the State Department for Shipping and Maritime Affairs, confirmed that discussions with Huawei’s top management—including Marketing & Solution Director Sunny Wang, Enterprise Marketing Director Cook Li, and Energy Sector Director Kebal Wang—centered on using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to expedite the transformation of the emerging sectors of Mining, Blue Economy, and Maritime for the benefit of Kenyans.
President William Ruto revealed last year that his administration has devised a comprehensive plan to harness resources in the blue economy to improve the lives of Kenyans. He noted the wealth of untapped resources in this sector, highlighting its potential to create employment opportunities for the youth.
“The blue economy will be an economic game changer for this country. We are going to integrate the sector for food security and employment opportunities for our people,” the President stated.
The meeting between Joho’s ministry and Huawei officials aligns with this plan and is viewed as a strategic effort to leverage support from development partners like China for sustainable development in the fisheries and maritime sectors.
