The Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute partnered with the National Bank of Kenya to convene a high-level discussion on sustainable blue economy financing during the WIOMSA Scientific Symposium in Mombasa.

KMFRI Director General Dr. Paul Orina emphasized research-driven investment priorities: "The Blue Economy remains underfunded, and there is a lack of adequate knowledge about existing ocean resources."

The session examined business cases for blue economy investment, sustainable financing challenges, and necessary policy frameworks. Participants discussed blue bonds and blended finance models as catalytic tools for marine initiatives.

NBK Director Ken Ouko emphasized the importance of addressing regulatory barriers and ensuring sufficient data availability for investment identification.