Some years ago, when our elders looked towards the sea, they saw sustenance and opportunities. Then the money started to arrive through other channels, perhaps also related to the sea, but now from Tourism. It seems that it was then when we forgot about that great blue generator of possibilities that had given us so much joy. Today in the Canary Islands we look again towards the sea with hope, as the source of new resources and economic growth. As a unique opportunity to achieve the much-vaunted economic diversification that we have been pursuing for a long time. What comes from the sea is the Blue Economy.
In the Canary Islands, the maritime sector already accounts for more than 7% of the regional GDP and employs more than 45,000 workers. Lanzarote's strategic position, a few miles from the Atlantic route of the African corridor, makes it an ideal place to support the Port of Las Palmas in its merchandise transshipment, refueling and provisioning or naval repair operations. However, for years our port did not have the capacity to accommodate all this activity. Hence the continuous demands to achieve improvements in port infrastructure. Today, about to tender the latest works, we can say that we have very competitive facilities. The Port of Arrecife is prepared to develop a wide range of activities with innovative companies that will generate new jobs within the framework of the Blue Economy: marine biotechnology, afloat naval repair, port services, nautical tourism, aquaculture, desalination or emerging activities linked to energy at sea. It is precisely these, offshore wind energy, wave energy or marine biotechnology, that are placing the Canary Islands at the forefront, with pioneering projects that could be extrapolated to other parts of the world. However, we urgently need to integrate Vocational Training into this approach, without which it is not possible to obtain professionals to work in the new subjects. A commitment that yields double benefit for the training opportunity it represents for our young people.
In this sense, it is essential to generate connection routes between activities that have been traditional in Lanzarote and the latest technological, procedural and management innovations. Carry out multidisciplinary work, so that the agri-food industry, biotechnology, water and energy management, fishing activity and Tourism can come together to generate a unique, own and inimitable scenario of Lanzarote.
2020 opens a decade of intelligent and sustainable growth in which the Blue Economy will be vital. Lanzarote, within the framework of the Biosphere Reserve, must defend an Eco-port that develops all this activity with total care for the environment and within a growth strategy agreed between the public administration, the private sector and the citizens.
Lanzarote must continue to look at the sea as it always was, an open window to opportunities, innovation and the future.