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The Blue Economy in African Nations: Views from Japan

On October 24, 2025, NHK World presented a captivating special program titled The Blue Economy in African Nations: Views from Japan. This broadcast dives into crucial topics such as food security, modernization of fisheries, job creation, and sustainable resource management. It emphasizes the collaborative potential between Japan and African countries in establishing a robust Blue Economy.

The backdrop of this enlightening program was the 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9), held in August 2025. During this influential conference, discussions centered around the Blue Economy were at the forefront. This economic model strives to harmonize growth, employment, and environmental preservation through the sustainable utilization of marine resources. Moreover, with 34 of Africa's 54 countries possessing coastal or island regions—and a collective coastline exceeding 30,000 kilometers—there exists an extraordinary opportunity to enhance food security and nutrition through effective fishery practices and job creation.

However, the sustainability of these marine resources is jeopardized by factors such as overfishing, illegal fisheries operations, habitat deterioration, and the detrimental impacts of climate change. This program sheds light on how African nations, confronted with a food security crisis spurred by rapid population growth and climate change, are contemplating pathways that leverage the Blue Economy to overcome these obstacles, thereby allocating resources more effectively for future development.

Japan, being a prominent maritime nation, underscores its commitment to partner with African nations in realizing a sustainable Blue Economy. The program serves as a beacon of hope, illuminating collaborative efforts towards economic and environmental sustainability.

This broadcast marked the second installment in a series dedicated to the Blue Economy concept. The inaugural episode, titled Blue Economy in the Ocean Super Year 2025: Views from Japan, aired in August. Dr. Atsushi Sunami, the president of the Sasakawa Peace Foundation (SPF)—a pioneering Japanese organization geared towards promoting international dialogue and cooperation—served as the program commentator, with Jackie Enzmann, SPF’s English Chief Editor, as the host.

The mission of the Sasakawa Peace Foundation, established in 1986, is to foster global cooperation by enhancing dialogue, understanding, and connectivity among nations. By extension, its endeavors contribute robustly to discussions surrounding marine sustainability and international partnerships aimed at tackling critical issues affecting both Africa and Japan today.

Through this program, viewers are encouraged to reflect on the interconnectedness of global challenges that transcend borders, with collective action being the essence of sustainable development in the marine economic landscape. The insights provided underscore that only through cooperative frameworks can we hope to address the pressing threats faced by our marine ecosystems and pave a path towards a healthier, more sustainable future for all.

For more information about this program, please visit the official website.

In conclusion, the conversation around the Blue Economy in Africa signals a crucial step towards integrating environmental sustainability with economic growth, and Japan's active involvement showcases a pioneering example of international cooperation aimed at realizing this vision.