DURBAN TO HOST EU MARITIME CHIEF AT OCEAN SUMMIT

Mar 19
2 min read

By: Sharlene Versfeld | Ocean Innovation Africa – Communications Desk

The Director-General of the European Commission’s for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Charlina Vitcheva, will deliver the keynote address at the Ocean Innovation Africa Summit, taking place in Durban from 23 to 25 March.

Ocean Innovation Africa, in collaboration with the eThekwini Municipality, will host this year’s edition at the INkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre.

The significance of this annual event is reflected in its growing reach, with the 2025 summit attracting 593 delegates from 59 countries, including 28 African nations.

Vitcheva will deliver the keynote address aligned to the summit theme, “Accelerating and Scaling Out Regenerative Blue Economy Action,” and will also participate as a panellist in a high-level panel discussion titled “Blue Finance for Resilience: Shifting from Aid Dependency to Sustainable Local Capital.”

The summit will bring together policymakers, practitioners, innovators, community leaders, investors, researchers and development partners to explore pathways that support the uptake of African-developed solutions.

It will focus on advancing regenerative blue business models, nature-positive growth, marine protection, economic expansion, community resilience and the strengthening of pan-African innovation ecosystems.

Welcoming Vitcheva’s participation, eThekwini Mayor Councillor Cyril Xaba said the City is honoured to host a global leader in maritime affairs and fisheries.

He noted that, as a coastal city deeply connected to the ocean economy, Durban stands to benefit from strengthened engagement between international policymakers and African stakeholders, creating opportunities for regeneration, collaboration and inclusive growth.

The Ocean Innovation Africa Summit continues to position itself as a platform focused on action and collaboration rather than dialogue alone.

In her role, Vitcheva leads European Union policy on maritime affairs and fisheries, working to promote ocean health, sustainable fisheries, a thriving blue economy, and resilient coastal communities.

Alexis Grosskopf, Co-founder of Ocean Innovation Africa, noted that the summit is designed to move beyond traditional conference formats by fostering coordinated action among key stakeholders.

He added that Vitcheva’s participation will help bridge policy, investment priorities and practical pathways to scale regenerative ocean solutions across Africa, bringing valuable expertise across finance, innovation, science and implementation.

Vitcheva emphasised the importance of international cooperation, stating that the European Ocean Pact serves as a blueprint for the protection and sustainable use of the ocean.

She highlighted that partnerships, including those under the Global Gateway Strategy and initiatives such as Blue Invest Africa are critical to promoting sustainable ocean governance, supporting local value creation and unlocking investment in ocean solutions.

She further noted that protecting the ocean and building prosperity for coastal communities must go hand in hand.

Vitcheva’s presence at the summit highlights its growing global relevance and its role in shaping solutions to challenges related to ocean health and the sustainable development of the blue economy.

As the host city, Durban continues to strengthen its position as a key hub for ocean economy dialogue and innovation.

For more information or to register, visit www.ocean-innovation.africa