4 Rwandan companies to travel to the Seychelles to participate in the BlueInvest Africa event, a key European Union initiative to promote the blue economy sector

Kigali, Rwanda – The European Union is organising in collaboration with the Republic of Seychelles, the first edition of BlueInvest Africa on 7 and 8 September 2022 in Providence, Mahé Island. This event, held under the high patronage of the President of the Republic of Seychelles, will bring together investors from Africa and Europe and African start-ups in order to generate business opportunities and promote the blue economy sector in Africa.

The Ambassador of the European Union to the Republic of Mauritius and the Republic of Seychelles, H.E. Mr. Vincent Degert said:

•  “This first edition of BlueInvest Africa takes place in the wake of the African Union-European Union Summit that aims to promote public-private partnership with the private sector as an essential driver of economic development and international relations. It is for this reason that the European Union has revised its cooperation instruments, placing innovative actions at the heart of its relations with partner countries to allow for the emergence of a business climate benefiting small and medium-sized African enterprises. In this respect, the EU organises BlueInvest Africa in collaboration with the Government of Seychelles, and under the high patronage of its President, W. Ramkalawan. »

The four Rwandan companies which will participate in the event are:

• Kepler Rwanda, works to prepare young Africans for the future of work with 21^st  Century skills and new pathways to employment
• Genius Advanced Technology Ltd (GAT), an IT Consultancy and Service Company that provides Enterprise IT solutions to organizations in Rwanda and throughout the world
• Frefish Ltd, a leader in Rwandan aquaculture development
• Ecoplastic, one of Rwanda’s leading companies in plastic recycling and the production of new plastic products

22 African countries will be represented in Seychelles by start-ups that have been selected to present their innovative projects in the major sub-sectors of the blue economy, namely sustainable tourism, blue energy, robotic sciences and engineering in the service of marine resources, sustainable aquaculture, plastic waste recycling and the fight against marine pollution - to investors from Africa and Europe. BlueInvest Africa will offer selected companies a unique opportunity to network with financial institutions including international ones such as the European Investment Bank and the World Bank as well as private investors.

In addition to project’ pitching sessions, the BlueInvest Africa programme includes site visits of projects in Seychelles, B2B meetings, an exhibition of blue economy projects in Africa as well as exchange sessions between participants.

BlueInvest Africa will be in the format of a hybrid event; in this regard, it will be broadcasted live for those who cannot attend. However, a registration is needed with a deadline set for 7 September 2022. The BlueInvest Africa programme as well as the names of participating companies and organisations are available on the event’s website https://blueinvest-africa-2022.b2match.io/

BlueInvest Africa: the first Blue Invest event organised outside the European Union

The blue economy is an important strategic dimension for Africa. 38 of the 54 countries in Africa are coastal states. The blue economy can play a critical role in Africa's structural transformation, sustainable economic growth and social development. It concerns all bodies of water, including lakes, rivers and groundwater, without forgetting the seas and coasts.

Both Africa and Europe have identified the blue economy as a key sector to pursue their socio-economic objectives and achieve the various objectives of the 2030 Agenda. Yet, access to finance continues to be a challenge for many blue economy small and medium enterprises.

It is in this context that the European Union is organising, in collaboration with the Republic of Seychelles, the first edition of BlueInvest Africa to bring together investors from Africa and Europe, innovators and entrepreneurs, small and medium enterprises and start-ups to generate business opportunities and develop sustainable products and services in the blue economy sector.