The inaugural Commonwealth Ocean Ministers Meeting will be held on 19 April 2024 in Cyprus, under the theme ‘Our Resilient Common Ocean: from Cyprus to Samoa’. It follows a call by leaders at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Rwanda in 2022, to consolidate action on the conservation and sustainable use of the ocean, seas, and marine resources.

The meeting will be attended by government ministers and senior officials from across the Commonwealth and is an opportunity to establish a voice for member countries on the ocean. Coastal states make up 49 of 56 Commonwealth members, yet all countries depend on the ocean for trade, transportation, access to resources and for security.

While in Cyprus, Commonwealth ministers responsible for ocean affairs will meet to establish the principles, priorities and actions for a Commonwealth Ocean Declaration, and to agree a roadmap which will pave the way for adoption of the declaration at CHOGM 2024 in Samoa.

The Commonwealth Secretary-General, the Rt Hon Patricia Scotland KC, said:

“The livelihoods of billions of people depend on the ocean because it is directly linked to food security, global heating, economic resilience and trade. Yet climate change, sea level rise, acidification, biodiversity loss, overfishing and plastic pollution are increasingly depleting our seas.”

“No country can solve these challenges alone. The first Commonwealth Ocean Ministers Meeting will place the ocean at the front and centre of Commonwealth action and provide a valuable forum for ministers to share experiences and progress on implementing international commitments and the Commonwealth Blue Charter."

April 19^th marks exactly six years since leaders at CHOGM 2018 adopted the Commonwealth Blue Charter and committed to work together on tackling shared ocean issues as well as to take action to safeguard the ocean for future generations.

Since 2018, the Commonwealth Secretariat has expanded its work in this area, by establishing and supporting country-led Blue Charter Action Groups, establishing an ocean project incubator, and through technical assistance on ocean governance, including accessing ocean climate finance. the global whole.

King Kong Organics Rwanda, a subsidiary of KKOG GLOBAL, has made history by securing a 5-year license to cultivate cannabis for medicinal purposes on 5 hectares of land in Musanze, becoming the first local company to do so. The company's investment of $10 million underscores its commitment to unlocking the potential of the local market.

KKOG Rwanda is a subsidiary of KKOG GLOBAL. -a US corporation incorporated under the laws of the State of California, United States, whose mission is to become the market-leader in medical cannabis cultivation on the African continent.

The company capitalizes on its ability to cultivate world-class organic medical cannabis and develop industry-leading growing, propagation and crop selection techniques. With a focus on the African continent, KKOG Inc. has developed key partnerships and global distribution channels alongside a unique local community development model that allows for capacity building and economic growth opportunities.

Its operations are spread across African countries including Rwanda- where the company assisted the Government of Rwanda (GoR) in its framework, but also commenced the construction of Rwanda’s first cannabis facility on 5-hectares in Musanze district-which is scheduled to be completed in May 2024.

"The facility will be the first of its kind with extraction and research components as well as cannabis end product development. There are plans to begin distillation to create the first cannabis infused liquors at the facility in 2025," said Rene Joseph, the Founder and CEO of KKOG Rwanda.

In 2010, the Ministry of Health proposed a law to allow cannabis to be used for medical purposes in the country. In 2021, Rwanda passed an order making cannabis legal for medicinal purposes.

Although Rwanda legalized medical marijuana, recreational cannabis uses and sales remain illegal in the country and the Rwandan government enforces strict penalties for the illicit production, distribution, and consumption of cannabis.

For instance, Rwanda Development Board (RDB) said that they will ensure that in no way the cannabis growth can leak out of the farm to go to the domestic market or to the wrong users. RDB stated that the cannabis crops will be in a designated place, and there will be very strong measures, whether it is CCTV cameras, watch towers, street lights, and human security- meaning that the process involved will extremely secure.

RDB says the legalization of cannabis for medical use doesn’t affect the legal framework of the country but considers cannabis production as a top investment opportunity as global cannabis production were projected to grow from $28.3 billion raked in 2021, to $197.7 billion in 2028 at a compound annual growth rate of 32 percent.

RDB has projected that Rwanda can attract at least Rwf19 billion (about $17.5 million) investment in the production of cannabis for export and KKOG has invested $10 million since coming to the local market to unlock this potential.

KKOG CEO, Joseph says he commends the government for embracing the economic potential of medicinal cannabis, the decision not only opens doors for exponential job growth but also signifies a progressive approach towards expanding Rwanda’s GDP.

“I extend my sincere gratitude to all parties involved. The Government of Rwanda has been integral in pioneering this legislation, we recognize their foresight and dedication to fostering growth and innovation,” Joseph said in a statement.

“I would be remiss to not mention the efforts of RDB staff of whom without their assistance and direction this endeavor would not have been as smooth and clear today,” he noted. There are others companies in Rwanda who already have “provisional license” to do the same but in order to get an actual license, the companies are required to purchase the land and build a facility on it just as KKOG - which is the only one to do so far.

KKOG is the largest licensed company in Africa with other multiple cannabis extraction facilities on the continent: 1000 hectares in DR Congo, 500 hectares in Zimbabwe as well as a extraction and research factory in Masasa in Harare, 200 hectare farm and seedbank in Malawi, 140 hectares in South Africa; as well as a presence in Lesotho, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Uganda, and Tanzania among others.

While other companies in Rwanda hold provisional licenses for cannabis cultivation, KKOG stands out as the first to acquire a full license, demonstrating its dedication to compliance and investment in infrastructure. With a presence in multiple African countries and a commitment to empowering local farmers, KKOG aims to lead the continent in medicinal cannabis cultivation, laying the foundation for sustainable economic development and prosperity.

KKOG says it has committed to fulfil its objectives to empower and train small and commercial farmers in financing their desire to enter the sector as well as be their exclusive Off-taker, thus sowing the seeds of financial prosperity for all. Africa Business Communities

1: Could you tell us a bit about Ericsson’s history in Kenya, and how Ericsson has contributed to the country's digital economy and connectivity goals?

Ericsson's history in Kenya dates to 1898 when we embarked on a project to add communications for the Nairobi - Kampala train line. Since then, we have built strong partnerships with both the public and private sectors in Kenya. Our focus has been on modernizing mobile networks and preparing them for the anticipated rapid expansion of mobile connectivity in the country, as well as laying the groundwork for Kenya's future adoption of 5G technology.

To achieve this, we have been committed to deploying our state-of-the-art solutions, such as Ericsson's Radio System portfolio and Packet Core solutions, to enhance user experiences and network performance for residents across the nation. By doing so, we aim to drive improved use cases for consumers and enterprises alike throughout Kenya. 

On top of this, we are working with Ericsson R&D and our partners to develop unique solutions to help ensure all Kenyans get access to broadband. Examples are using mobile to deliver a fiber-like experience in deep rural areas as well as developing very low-cost and low-power sites where the business case for our customers can otherwise be very difficult.  Our activities in Kenya align with the 'Digital Economy Blueprint’ of Kenya Vision 2030, which focuses on providing robust connectivity in rural areas and facilitating the growth of e-commerce platforms in the country. Through our dedication to innovation and collaboration with regional partners, we strive to contribute significantly to Kenya's digital economy and connectivity goals. 

2.Ericsson's Graduate Program in Kenya aims to nurture local talent and support nation-building activities. How has this program contributed to the development of technical skills and innovation among the graduates?

Ericsson's Graduate Program in Kenya has been designed to maximize the potential of young talents by providing them with hands-on training in Ericsson's technology, solutions, and delivery processes. One of the primary ways in which this program has contributed to the development of technical skills among graduates is through its carefully curated and robust training modules. 

Being a global leader in telecommunications, we leverage our expertise and resources to impart cutting-edge technical knowledge to these young talents. Through a combination of classroom sessions, hands-on workshops, and real-world project assignments, the graduates are exposed to a diverse range of technical disciplines, including telecommunications networks, cloud technologies, Internet of Things (IoT), 5G, artificial intelligence, and much more. This comprehensive exposure equips them with a solid foundation in modern technologies and prepares them for the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. By Ericsson Kenya, The Standard