Pretoria – South Africa’s Transport Minister Dipuo Peters is currently in Swakopmund, Namibia, where she is attending the Fifth Benguela Current Commission (BCC) Ministerial Conference.
The BCC is a multi-sectoral inter-governmental initiative consisting of Angola, Namibia and South Africa.
It promotes the vision of the Benguela Current Large Marine Eco-system (BCLME) which sustains the well-being of human and eco-system over generations.
“The BCLME extends from east of the Cape of Good Hope, northwards to Cabinda Province in Angola and encompasses the full extent of Namibia's marine environment. It is a major coastal eco-system and important marine biodiversity and food production,” said the Department of Transport.
The Minister’s participation in the BCC conference precedes South Africa’s successful participation in the African Union Extraordinary Summit on Maritime Security and Safety and Development in Africa which was held in the capital of Togo, Lomé, on 15 October 2016.
The aim of the Lomé Conference was to make maritime the key driver of Africa's economic and social development.
“Intra-African cooperation on Maritime Affairs will bolster South Africa’s plans to unlock its full ocean economic potential as pronounced in Operation Phakisa and will serve as a conduit for greater regional integration on the continent,” Minister Peters previously said. – SAnews.gov.za
