Kenyan leader calls for more efforts to exploit blue economy

Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta on Thursday called for more efforts to exploit blue economy of the Indian Ocean.

"This region sits by the immensely promising blue economy of the Indian Ocean. We are a long way from exploiting the potential of this treasure," he said while opening this year's Agricultural Society of Kenya Mombasa International Show.

He urged the coastal region to expand fishing in the India Ocean, saying it has the potential to create many jobs for the youth.

He said the coastal region should work closely with the national government to help fishermen get bigger boats and other fishing equipment that will enable them to fully exploit the marine resources.

He noted that with the current fish production of about 9,000 metric tonnes, the sector directly employs 14,000 fishermen from the coastal communities.

"Yet the potential fish production from Kenya's exclusive economic zone is estimated to lie between 150,000 metric tonnes to 300,000 metric tonnes," he said.

Kenyatta said the government also seeks to promote large-scale public-private partnerships to boost agriculture's contribution to the country's economic growth.

He cited the livestock sub-sector as an important contributor to the coastal region's development and to the overall national economy.

To improve the livestock sub-sector, the president said the government will continue to implement disease surveillance and control program in collaboration with the counties as part of its campaign to eradicate livestock diseases in the country. Endit