ECA Official Video Channel 102d ago

Cameroon’s Blue Economy Week spotlighted the strategic potential of the country’s marine and coastal resources as a catalyst for sustainable economic transformation. Preliminary data highlight the sector’s growing significance: the blue economy already contributes 5.8% to national GDP and supports around 3% of total employment in Cameroon, while the value of ecosystem services, often overlooked natural benefits, is estimated at XAF 22.6 trillion, underscoring the scale of its economic and environmental value. The initiative began on 24 January along the shores of Douala, Limbe and Buea, where ECA joined 500 young volunteers in the fourth annual Cameroon Beach Clean-up. Organized in partnership with the Association for Community Awareness (ASCOA) and other civil society organizations, the campaign mobilized volunteers across more than four kilometres of coastline, removing 4.46 tons of waste. Beyond environmental clean-up, the initiative sent a clear message: a thriving blue economy depends fundamentally on healthy and well-preserved marine and coastal ecosystems. Insights and data generated during the week are helping inform strategic thinking on how to position the blue economy as a key driver of sustainable growth, job creation and economic diversification in Cameroon.