Innovation and growth in the marine and maritime sector could deliver food, energy, transport, among other products and services and serve as a foundation for sustainable development in Kenya. The Lake Region alone, (which includes Bungoma, Busia, Homa Bay, Kakamega, Kisii, Kisumu, Migori, Nyamira, Siaya and Vihiga) constitutes about 25 percent of the population of Kenya. Here the Blue Economy has the potential to contribute to create jobs, especially for youths, spuring higher and faster national GDP growth.

The Lake Region Economic Bloc (LREB) of Kenya in partnership with the FAO and the European Centre for Development Policy Management is holding a two-days' workshop in Kisumu, Kenya the 26th and 27th November 2020 to discuss the development of a policy framework and mobilization of private sector investment to blue economy development in the bloc.

This discussion is timely and especially important in the context of the agriculture sector growth and transformation strategy (ASTGS). 

Under the AgrInvest-Food Systems Project, FAO has identified the LREB as a strategic partner that can be supported to facilitate private sector investment into aquaculture in the Lake region. LREB is advocating to the LREB counties to initiate some investments geared in creating a better enabling environment to attract more private sector investment in aquaculture in the region.