The Government of the Republic of Seychelles and the Commonwealth Secretariat will host a high-level roundtable at the UN Ocean Conference.
The Government of the Republic of Seychelles and the Commonwealth Secretariat will host a high-level roundtable at the UN Ocean Conference, bringing together leaders and senior ministers from Commonwealth oceanic states.
The side event will be opened by the Prime Minister of Fiji, co-chair of the conference, and include participation from Bangladesh, Barbados, Cyprus, Grenada and Tonga, as well as representatives from UNCTAD and civil society.
The roundtable will examine the role of the Commonwealth in supporting the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 14 with reference to maximising innovation and economic opportunities in the development of blue economies. Ensuring fairness, equity, and women’s empowerment and mobilising Commonwealth partnerships and support will also be addressed.
Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland will discuss the proposed development of a ‘Blue Charter’, a set of guiding principles for sustainable, fair and equitable ocean economic development based on the Charter of the Commonwealth. Speakers will discuss their experience of blue economy successes and hurdles and explore ways in which individual country needs and experiences can be supported.
Event programme:
- Opening remarks - J.V. Bainimarama, Prime Minister of Fiji and Co-Chair of the Conference:
- Welcoming remarks - Vincent Meriton, Vice President of the Republic of Seychelles and co-host of the side event
- Introduction - Patricia Scotland, Commonwealth Secretary-General and co-host of the side event
Panel discussion moderated by the Commonwealth Secretary-General:
- Keith Mitchell, Prime Minister, Grenada
- Vincent Meriton, Vice President, Republic of Seychelles
- Semisi Fakahau, Minister of Fisheries, Tonga
- Nicos Kouyialis, Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, Cyprus
- Maxine McClean, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Barbados
- Khurshed Alam, Secretary of Maritime Affairs Unit, Bangladesh
- Mukhisa Kituyi, Secretary General, UNCTAD
A view from civil society:
- Terrance Phillips, Commonwealth Foundation
Commonwealth Principles for Sustainable Ocean Development: a ‘Blue Charter.’
- Q&A
- Concluding remarks
Further information:
For enquiries please contact Jeff Ardron [email protected], Ocean Governance Adviser at the Commonwealth Secretariat.
About us:
The Commonwealth Secretariat leads the way in helping coastal member countries to claim national maritime territory, sustainably manage the marine environment and realise its economic potential. Forty-five of our 52 members are ocean states and 24 are small island developing states.
Discover more Commonwealth events at The Ocean Conference: thecommonwealth.org/oceanconference
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