Miraj Desai’s Post

My participation in the above having just ended, I'm grateful to the organisers, the moderator and my fellow panelist for the opportunity to express my views as a private sector participant. Also great that we could do this (for me albeit virtually) at the Nigerian pavilion on Nigeria Day at COP29. Noting that Nigeria's place at number 33 on the global list of ship owning nations, is a leading one for sub-saharan Africa (never mind Liberia's place by virtue of lending its name to a globally significant Flag of Convenience). Given the constraints of time, and the limitations of our knowledge, the panel could only raise issues and emphasize salient points for further discussion. I hope further discussions and engagements on the subject can focus on the following considerations: 1. Without a thriving maritime industry, tailored to promoting intra-African trade, sub-Saharan Africa will struggle to achieve economic prosperity. 2. The orientation of Africa's current fledgling maritime sector is towards increasing TEU throughput in selected African ports to the advantage of goverment tax revenue and international corporate margins; but to the disadvantage of local production, value-added exports and a holistic development of Africa's maritime transport value chain. Arguably, the current setup and orientation keeps Africa import dependant. 3. Existing national and regional policy statements and initiatives which are public-sector-centred and focused only on parochial national interests, port infrastructure, deep-sea or long-haul shipping, and the importation of shipping services have failed to develop a successful maritime industry for Africa. 4. The real opportunities and and advantages lie in intentionally and continentally delineating an African local market in maritime transport services involving incentive-based local private participation in coastal or short-sea shipping and related vessel ownership. That local market must also include the following: *Navigable inland waterways, *Ports, harbours and landing cites located close to production centres of the region, *Ship repair and maintenance facilities, *Alternative fuel jetties and bunkering points, *Uniformity of regulation across the sub-region, *An African P&I Club and Classification Society for vessels in Africa's domestic shipping, *A green domestic or short-sea shipping fleet and maritime transport infrastructure for Africa. 5. Such an African domestic maritime transport market must and may only, in the first instance, be enthusiastically capitalised by African developmental and globally sourced green funds (patient and competitively priced capital). To sufficiently derisk the market for private sector participation, African DFIs, governmental leadership and maritime entrepreneurs must work closely together to provide the required policy and regulatory framework, build foundational infrastructure beyond ports and provide the needed financial and commercial guarantees.

Today at the Nigerian Pavilion at #COP29, at an event organised by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, High-Level Climate Champions and UCL Energy Institute, maritime lawyer and shipping entrepreneur Stanley R. K. Ahorlu provided clear, concise and carefully thought-out prescriptions for how to develop Africa's shipping industry to boost intra-regional trade and to support Africa's economic development. I couldn't agree more with his summary below. African Union African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat MOWCA - MARITIME ORGANIZATION OF WEST AND CENTRAL AFRICA MOESNA Secretariat International Maritime Organization Maritime TV Africa African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) #cop29Azerbaijan #Nigeria #climatefinance #financeCOP #theafricawewant #shipfinance #decarbonisation #transition

Africa stands at a unique crossroads of opportunity, distinguished by the world's lowest per capita carbon footprint and abundant natural resources. These factors position the continent to set a global example for sustainable development. By capitalizing on its environmental advantage and growing economic potential, Africa has the potential to lead the world in the green economy. This report explores the continent’s potential for sustainable growth, the challenges posed by historical exploitation, and the strategic opportunities for investment in green technologies. This serves as the first of two articles in this week, while you're at it visit our site and subscribe to our magazine https://lnkd.in/gxp36kcc

Join us for an exclusive discussion on Rethinking Development: How is the concept of development defined, conceptualised, configured, and operationalised within International Development Financed (IDF) Projects: Evidence and perspectives from IDF projects within integrated transboundary landscapes and seascapes in Tanzania. https://lnkd.in/dSP_TvRv

On November 27-28, 2024, the SPECA Economic Forum convened in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, gathering policymakers, experts, and stakeholders to strategize on promoting green economic transformation within the SPECA region. Through focused dialogue and knowledge sharing, the forum sought to enhance regional cooperation and contribute to a sustainable future. The event underscored the urgency of transitioning to a green economy, with a particular emphasis on sustainable transport as a cornerstone for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and fostering regional integration. Dr. Hans Holzhacker, former Chief Economist at the #CARECInstitute, delivered an address highlighting the pivotal role of low-carbon mobility solutions and clean energy integration into transportation systems. He outlined key priorities including the development of green transcontinental corridors, modernization of public transport networks, and the replacement of aging vehicle fleets to establish energy-efficient and inclusive mobility systems. Furthermore, Dr. Hans underlined the importance of stimulating economic growth through trade facilitation, green electrification, and digitalization, advocating for the development of critical infrastructure and leveraging regional partnerships as the foundation for long-term prosperity and sustainable development.

📣 NEW PUBLICATION: DISCUSSION PAPER ON MINIBUS ELECTRIFICATION IN AFRICA 🚌 ⚡ Why are minibuses key in the decarbonization of public transport systems throughout Africa? What does minibus electrification have to do with paratransit reform? What are potential minibus electrification pathways, and which are key issues to consider?   We address all of these and other key questions in our latest Discussion Paper on Minibus Electrification in Africa, which we just published in our Changing Transport Website.   This paper, authored by Herrie Schalekamp, Holger Dalkmann and myself is a collaborative effort between Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH and VREF Volvo Research and Educational Foundations, as we hope to help practitioners working on paratransit and public transport systems in Africa think about this issue that will certainly gain importance in the upcoming years. Read the full paper here https://lnkd.in/e6JxgYhq) The paper builds on our recent Regional Exchange on Minibus Electrification in Kigali, organized by MobiliseYourCity Transformative Urban Mobility Initiative and VREF, with the support from TRANSITEC (France) - Optimiseurs de mobilité. Thank you to all participants for their valuable and encouraging inputs. Read more about the event here: https://lnkd.in/eFsdGaKK Henrik Nolmark Daniel Bongardt

Regional Development Forum of Uzbekistan: Building green and climate-resilient regions Christophe Pusch, World Bank's urban development, sustainability and land practice manager, on the promotion of regional development and urbanization processes

🌍 Join us for our upcoming Practitioners' Perspective webinar as we delve into the future of transformative transport services in Africa. 🚀 🗓️ Thursday 21st March at 14:00hrs CAT (12:00 hrs GMT, 13:00 WAT) 🖥️ Online - Register now: https://lnkd.in/eQ4WT3yP 🎙️ Key Topics: 1️⃣ Electrification of Public Transport: Exploring challenges and opportunities. 2️⃣ Initiatives and Innovations: Spotlight on clean, electric transport solutions. 3️⃣ Prospects and Opportunities: Scaling up sustainable development initiatives. 4️⃣ Challenges and Solutions: Overcoming obstacles in the transition to clean transit. 5️⃣ Role of Stakeholders: Collaboration for sustainable transport solutions. 🔊 Speaker Highlight: Doreen Orishaba, Managing Director of BasiGo Rwanda, will share valuable insights from her experience in sustainable transport. 🎯 Who Should Attend? Transport practitioners, policymakers, researchers, industry professionals, and anyone interested in sustainable transport solutions in Africa. Don't miss out on this opportunity to gain valuable insights and engage with leading experts in the field. Secure your spot now: https://lnkd.in/eQ4WT3yP #SustainableTransport #CleanTransit #AfricanTransport #Webinar #TRATSEDI

#EnergyEfficiency and #RenewableEnergy are critical instruments for ensuring #EnergySecurity, decarbonizing the economies in the Eastern Partnership countries, and creating new and better employment opportunities. Access to green upskilling, removing barriers for women and young people in male-dominated #energy and #construction industries, and creating a conducive ecosystem for businesses to benefit from the greener energy solutions are among the key topics for RECONOMY in #EaP and #WB6.