The Oceans Economy is a critical sector for the City with many benefits, a webinar on the Oceans Economy, held on 29 January, heard.

The webinar was hosted by the City’s Economic Development Unit in partnership with the Municipal Institute of Learning (MILE).

 

Participants were informed that eThekwini has about 100km of coastline. The ocean and coastal ecosystem provide direct and indirect benefits to the economy of eThekwini through trade, energy, tourism as well as human livelihoods, food security and job opportunities. It is therefore a critical sector for the City and its residents due its contribution to social, economic, and environmental sustainability.

 

Shunnon Tulsiram, Head of the Economic Development and Investment Promotion Unit, welcomed participants to the webinar. He mentioned the importance of the platform and how it will help participants to understand the concept of the Ocean Economy.

 

“Working together towards identifying the opportunities for the Ocean Economy and the benefits while adapting a systemic way to improve the way we work is vital,” said Tulsiram.

 

Tulsiram’s Deputy Head, Takalani Rathiyaya provided delegates with the workshop objective. He highlighted that the webinar aimed to connect and provide a networking platform.

 

Insightful presentations were discussed throughout the day, including that of Nomalanga Sokhela who presented on the importance of the Oceans Economy.

She said: “A sustainable coastal and Ocean Economy development plan will thus require all players to jointly vision, plan, budget, implement, report, monitor and evaluate the sector. This will ensure the use of critical infrastructure to grow the market and improve and export capabilities economy.”

 

Incorporating lessons from the Green Economy to Oceans Economy was Dr Magash Naidoo who provided lessons from the Green Economy.

He stressed the importance of;
• Linking to existing work,
• Different approaches for economic and technical work,
• That platforms are important and,
• Programmes and deadlines.

The webinar focused on maximising eThekwini’s competitive advantage and defining the Oceans Economy through mobilising existing programmes and opportunities. It provided a space for participates to learn and engage on critical areas of the Ocean Economy.

 

Thantaswa Cici spoke on the KwaZulu-Natal Perspective of Oceans Economy and presented the KZN maritime industry vision.

He said: “It is pertinent to position KZN to the world through efficient and sustainable utilisation of marine and maritime assets in order to stimulate economic growth and development.”