KPA Head of Strategy Martin Mutuku, KPA Human Resources General Manager Amani Komora and General Manager Corporate Communications Edward Kamau
MOMBASA, Kenya, Sept 10 – Over 330 global researchers, policymakers and industry stakeholders in maritime economics, policy and management are converging in Mombasa for a four-day 26th International Association of Maritime Economists (IAME) conference.
The conference, which will be hosted in Kenya for the first time, will be held at the Pride Inn Hotel in Shanzu Mombasa from Tuesday to Friday this week.
Kenya Ports Authority acting Managing Director, Daniel Manduku, said over 40 countries will be represented at the conference.
The experts are expected to present about 100 highly technical research papers on maritime, shipping and port issues.
KPA Human Resources General Manager, Amani Komora, adds that Kenya and Africa will immensely benefit from the deliberations of the conference.
“The annual IAME conference is an opportunity for academicians and maritime experts and practitioners to meet and discuss current and emerging research issues and contribute to the development of maritime economics and disciplines,” said Manduku.
The issues of piracy and security, fishing in the high seas, inland waters, port matters and generally all issues around the blue economy will be part of the discussion.
Transport Cabinet Secretary James Macharia will on Wednesday officially open the conference, whose theme is, “Sustainable Maritime, Port and Logistics Industries in Emerging Economies: Towards a Path of Blue Economy.”
According to the conference programme, the Secretary-General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, Dr Mukhisa Kituyi will on Wednesday give a keynote address covering technical aspects.
KPA Head of Strategy and Corporate Development, Martin Mutuku, who is also the chairperson of the IAME local organizing committee, said the over 100 research papers that will be presented in the conference are significant to Kenya.
“The conference is expected to fully explain to us the benefits of blue economy and how to take advantage of what we have as a country. It will also address the challenges of piracy, insecurity and pollution,” said Mutuku.
The conference comes at a time when Kenya is focused on the exploitation of the Blue Economy with Nairobi salted to host the Sustainable Blue Economy Conference in November.
