The Port Management Association of Eastern and Southern Africa (PMAESA) and the African Media Initiative (AMI) have agreed to work together to raise awareness on the maritime economy through media related activities.

The agreement was made following a visit by PMAESA Secretary General Nozipho Mdawe and Head of Communications George Sunguh to the AMI headquarters in Nairobi.

The meeting discussed possible areas of synergy between the two organizations in raising the profile of the maritime economy and related activities on the continent. Knowledge of the sector remains extremely low in Africa and the dissemination of information on the maritime sector has been a challenge as few journalists understand it.

AMI and PMAESA will work to bring together leaders in the media industry and the maritime sector in Africa to discuss how the media can best inform citizens on opportunities present in the maritime economy.

The African maritime sector remains under-reported despite its enormous potential for transforming the continent’s economy. By creating better linkages between the media and maritime economy stakeholders, AMI and PMAESA hope to spur improvements in the governance of the sector and to encourage a harmonized vision for an African maritime economy through a sharing of knowledge.

Speaking during the courtesy call, AMI CEO Erick Chinje noted that the maritime sector has deep significance for African populations in terms of job creation and international trade. The public needs to be informed about opportunities that abound in the Blue Economy and about harnessing the potential of Africa’s seas and oceans.

Mdawe informed the AMI team of the forthcoming PMAESA annual conference to be held between 15th and 19th November in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. The Conference will discuss ‘Port Strategies for Harnessing the African Blue Economy and Investment Options’.

She said the blue economy could be the next frontier to help alleviate poverty in Africa if properly harnessed.

PMAESA is an intergovernmental agency founded by the United Nations Economic Commission (UNECA) in 1973 to harmonize seaport and maritime activities in 21 countries within the Eastern and Southern Africa and is headquartered in Mombasa, Kenya.

AMI,on the other hand, is a pan-African effort aimed at providing the continent’s private and independent media owners and practitioners with the tools they need to play an effective role in their societies. AMI’s was founded after research that was done under the auspices of BBC World Service Trust and UNECA and is included in the 2005 G8 Gleneagles and Commission for Africa recommendations.