In the midst of the Coronavirus emergency, the Colombian Government approves policy to transform Colombia into a maritime development power though The CONPES (National Council for Economic and Social Policy) document was approved to establish Colombia as a Maritime “bioceanic” (two oceans within the national territory) benchmark of the world by 2030 confirmed la W Radio.
With this initiative, led by Vice President Marta Lucía Ramírez, the National Council for Economic and Social Policy seeks to strengthen the country’s maritime capacity and make the most of the Atlantic and the Pacific ocean.
With an initial investment of COP 370,794 million, research and innovation projects will be launched in the continental and marine territory; Docks and piers will be improved in a large part of the 47 coastal municipalities, beaches will be organized, marine biodiversity will be protected and sustainable fishing and commerce will be promoted.
In addition, the National Government will implement strategies for coastal protection from erosion due to climate change and will seek a better quality of life for the riverside and shore side populations.
“We are a privileged country, with great maritime wealth, but unfortunately, for a long time, we have lived with our backs to our two oceans, without dimensioning the enormous potential that lies in our waters,” said Ramírez.
Colombia Sustainable Bioceanic Power 2030
The “Colombia potencia bioceánica sostenible 2030” (Colombia Sustainable Bioceanic Power 2030) policy marks the strategic route of the maritime and coastal territory and promotes it as a factor of sustainable development for the nation. This document will seek to boost institutionality and strengthen governance in the sea and coastal areas with the creation of an intersectoral “National Bioceanic System” with national, regional and local reach.
The five main objectives of CONPES: exercise bi-oceanic governance to comprehensively manage the country’s ocean potential; increase the State’s capacity to ensure the sovereignty, defense, and comprehensive maritime security; promote oceanic knowledge, culture, research and innovation to contribute to the social appropriation of the bi-oceanic country; harmonize the planning instruments to articulate territorial development and marine spaces and finally, promote maritime economic activities and local coastal development to contribute to the productive and social development of the country.
Colombia will be able to provide continuous attention, enhancing the country’s institutional participation in international scenarios, as well as seeking to modernize the country’s capabilities to guarantee effective coverage of the national maritime territory, strengthen maritime awareness from basic and cultural training, increase the educational and research offer on marine – coastal issues, promoting scientific and technical capacities for understanding the oceans and preparing plans for coastal marine planning and other topics that have been prioritized in this document.
In all these areas of action that were defined a year and three months ago, the participation and commitment of all government institutions are necessary, in order to put an end to the disarticulation that ocean policy had been presenting and for this reason, today the CONPES document is proposed as a comprehensive system that links the national and regional, where the coordinating function of the Colombian Ocean Commission is also strengthened.
- The CONPES Bioceánico has the participation of 19 entities.
- There are 66 actions to fulfill, which are associated with the 5 objectives of CONPES.
- The projected investment to execute the CONPES is $ 370,794 million pesos.
- Colombia has 658,000 square kilometers in the Caribbean Sea and 330,000 in the Pacific Ocean, which is equivalent to 44.86 percent of the total extension of the national territory.
Colombia had received a lot of attention from all maritime nations and the IMO (International Maritime Organization) the standardized branch of the UN (United Nations) which handles maritime transport. Through September 15th to 17th 2019, the World Maritime day Parallel event celebrated in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia given the countries strategical geo-location, two (2) ocean coasts, the highest rain or precipitation level (WorldForum, 2014), resource and commodity export rich country and inland waterway connection availability.
Editorial overview
Above all, the government ought to reorganize all the dependencies that handle maritime and ocean affairs into a hybrid Ministry with public, private and academic stakeholders. The hybrid approach would optimize decision making, supervision and represent the general best interest of the population. Consequently, proper Oceans and Maritime Transport Policy would probably proceed with the foundation of the Ministry.
Ver Artículo VIDEO: OMI – ¿Qué Es Una Política Nacional De Transporte Marítimo?
The development and execution of the Maritime transport and Oceans policy to develop sustainably Colombia as a ‘Bioceanic’ Benchmark nation will be objectively assessed by FullAvanteNews and the World Maritime University Alumni Association Chapter Colombia made up of maritime professionals with the experience and knowledge to asses in policy-making and safe interest of the Colombian maritime interests.
