Dr. Abdeta Beyene, Executive Director of the CDRC, brought a powerful landlocked perspective to the global stage at SAGARMANTHAN – The Great Oceans Dialogue, held October 27- 29, 2025 in Mumbai, India.
Speaking at the session “Sailing into Innovation: Towards a Resilient Maritime Future,” Dr. Abdeta emphasized that maritime innovation must benefit both coastal and inland nations. “The seas are the arteries of global trade — carrying over 80% of the world’s commerce — and how we innovate across this domain will shape the stability and prosperity of nations, coastal or not,” he said.
He stressed that Ethiopia’s future depends on the efficiency, sustainability, and security of its sea access through ports such as Djibouti and Berbera. For landlocked countries, he said, sailing into innovation “does not mean building ships — it means future-proofing economic survival and growth.”
Dr. Abdeta called for smarter, greener trade corridors, stronger regional partnerships in marine research and renewable energy, and the inclusion of landlocked nations in maritime governance, particularly around the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.
He concluded that maritime resilience must extend beyond coastlines to include hinterlands and inland economies. “It connects the highlands to the harbors and the hinterlands to the high seas,” he said. “Africa’s maritime transformation must leave no nation behind.”
SAGARMANTHAN – The Great Oceans Dialogue, 2025 was organized by The Observer Research Foundation and India’s Ministry of Port, Shipping and Waterways (MoPS&W) as part of India Maritime Week.
