Aligning growth with green responsibilities

Two years ago, the Red Sea was closed to commercial shipping. Major carriers rerouted around the Cape of Good Hope. Freight costs surged. Supply chains that had linked Asia, Africa and Europe through the Suez Canal for over a century were severed almost overnight.

For Egypt, the impact was immediate. The Suez Canal, a lifeline through which roughly 12 percent of global trade passed, saw its revenues drop by nearly half.

This episode revealed a critical truth. While more than 80 percent of global trade moves by sea, the governance structures that underpin maritime security remain fragmented. Shipping lanes are global, but the mechanisms to protect them are not. This gap poses a key challenge, and the stakes go far beyond shipping alone.

The ocean economy, spanning fisheries, coastal tourism, offshore energy and marine biotechnology, is valued at roughly $2.5 trillion annually. Egypt, with coastlines on both the Mediterranean and the Red Sea and more than 50 working ports, is deeply embedded in that economy. For its people, the sea means jobs, food, and opportunity. But they cannot capture those benefits if the ocean itself is degraded.

Illegal fishing depletes stocks. Plastic and industrial pollution erode coastal habitats. Submarine cables, which carry over 95 percent of the world's intercontinental data, remain inadequately protected. The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea provides the legal framework, but governance is only as strong as its implementation.

In this context, three priorities require urgent and sustained attention. First, there should be better maritime awareness. We need shared surveillance, stronger regional coordination and joint operations that are equal to the threats we face.

Second, blue economy strategies must align with environmental responsibilities. Economic growth that undermines the ecosystems upon which it depends is inherently unsustainable. Lasting development requires balance, responsible stewardship, and a long-term vision.

Third, we must invest in knowledge and human capital.

The path forward lies in partnership, grounded in international law, guided by science and measured by concrete results.

Greater connectivity crucial for regional growth

This year, ESCAP member states are preparing their new regional action program for sustainable transport development which will cover the period from 2027 to 2031.

Similar to the previous regional action program, this will be a unique strategic framework designed to address the evolving challenges of our times in the field of transport.

In 2021, member countries recognized maritime connectivity as one of the seven thematic areas of utmost priority for the region. They also established a key mechanism for regular regional dialogue on sustainable maritime connectivity for Asia and the Pacific.

The new regional action program is expected to build on these achievements to set a clear road map for collective action. In this context, the pivotal role of the Asia-Pacific region as the engine of global trade and the efforts of ESCAP countries in advancing maritime connectivity must be recognized.

Numerous national and regional initiatives, of which China's Maritime Silk Road is a flagship example, helped us achieve significant progress in more efficient and resilient transport operations.

These efforts have done more than just build infrastructure; they have created vital arteries for economic flow and people-to-people exchanges. By enhancing port efficiency and fostering intermodal connectivity, these initiatives have significantly contributed to the development of maritime transport across Asia and the Pacific, leading to tangible results in shortened lead times, more integrated supply chains, and a stronger, more unified regional market.

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