On 15 June 2026, Our Blue Future (OBF), in collaboration with SWIOP-Invest, Wetlands International Eastern Africa (WIEA), and Maersk, convened the Blue Connections networking event in Mombasa alongside the 11th Our Ocean Conference.
Held at PrideInn Paradise, the event brought together investors, blue economy enterprises, development partners, conservation organisations, policymakers, and private sector actors for an evening of dialogue and relationship-building aimed at advancing sustainable blue economy investment across the Western Indian Ocean.
The networking session provided a platform for participants to explore strategic partnerships, investment opportunities, and innovative approaches that can accelerate inclusive and sustainable coastal and marine development in the region. Discussions focused on investment readiness, regional collaboration, responsible private sector engagement, and the critical role partnerships play in unlocking sustainable growth in the blue economy.
Regional Director of WIEA and OBF Co-Chair, Dr Julie Mulonga, underscored the importance of collaboration in shaping a resilient ocean economy.
“Tonight is intentionally about connections. About bringing together investors, businesses, conservation organisations, development partners and innovators who share a common understanding that the future of our economies, our communities and climate resilience is deeply intertwined with the health of our oceans and coastal ecosystems.”
The discussions highlighted the important role of the private sector in advancing sustainable ocean stewardship and supporting resilient coastal economies. Maersk’s Head of Public and Regulatory Affairs – Africa, John Taylor Godfrey, reflected on the company’s approach to responsible business and community engagement.
“We spend a lot of time at Maersk thinking about how to navigate the issue of social licence to operate and how to do that in a way that is responsible. We are very conscious of our impact on countries and communities, and we take seriously the mandate to be good stewards in the countries where we operate.”
Participants also underscored the importance of creating enabling environments that can support sustainable blue economy investments and partnerships across the region. OBF Head of Secretariat, Robin Farrington, highlighted the critical role of governments and regional cooperation in advancing blue economy priorities.
“We need to work with governments in the region through the Nairobi Convention to support blue economy development and strengthen partnerships with the private sector.”
The event further showcased the growing momentum behind the Sustainable Western Indian Ocean Programme (SWIOP). Speaking on the programme, GIZ’s ProsperBlue Programme Manager, Thorsten Huber, highlighted SWIOP’s role in strengthening governance, conservation, business development, and investment promotion across the region.
“We will launch SWIOP on 18 June 2026, an important programme covering many areas, including governance, blue economy investments, and conservation. GIZ will implement the programme’s second pillar, supporting the blue economy through business development and fostering investments in the sector.”
The Blue Connections event demonstrated the value of convening diverse stakeholders to catalyse partnerships, unlock financing opportunities, and strengthen regional collaboration for a resilient and prosperous Western Indian Ocean.
As momentum for sustainable blue economy investment continues to grow, sustained dialogue and collaboration among governments, investors, businesses, development partners, and conservation actors will be critical in building an inclusive, resilient, and investment-ready blue economy for the region.
