Seychelles to host first national stakeholders meeting on ‘Blue Economy’ |27 November 2014

Seychelles is organising a national stakeholders dialogue on the relevance of the Blue Economy to its development.

The meeting, to be held on December 9-10, 2014 at the International Conference Centre, will be officially opened by President James Michel.

As a matter of policy the government of Seychelles is seeking to explore the full potential of its Blue Economy and bring it to the forefront of the national agenda.

“Seychelles has been at the forefront in pushing the Blue Economy concept onto the agenda of the international community as a recognition of the priorities of small island developing states (Sids). Through the Blue Economy we are large ocean nations. Seychelles has always recognised the importance of our ocean to our development and this is reflected in many of the strategic investments we have made to develop fisheries for example. But it is clear that we need further innovation and transformation to empower our people to take up these new opportunities. This conference is the opportunity for the Seychellois people to lead this Blue Economy revolution,” said President Michel.

The Blue Economy is a concept whose principles are mutually aligned and supportive of that of the Green Economy. It offers innumerable development potentials and specific mechanisms for the Sids and coastal states to successfully address the sustainability development challenges through the sustainable use of the potentials of their respective exclusive economic zones of their respective oceans.

The national stakeholders dialogue will seek to inform all stakeholders and parties on the strides being made in all sectors involved in the Blue Economy and to give insight on the continued development potentials of these sectors.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Jean-Paul Adam, noted: “Our engagement with the international community has ensured that we have the support to develop the innovation we need to develop our Blue Economy. We are very grateful for the technical expertise of the Commonwealth that will help us to develop our national blue economy roadmap through this conference and beyond. And this conference will ensure that the aspirations of the Seychellois people are reflected in this roadmap.”

The two-day conference will also encourage pragmatic approaches, identify possible conflicts and propose resolutions by promoting dialogue between the various stakeholders in key thematic fields pertaining to the Blue Economy. Those are primarily in: fisheries, aquaculture, marine biotechnology, sustainable marine resource exploitation and marine spatial planning, as to find common ground and tangible ways in which the Blue Economy can benefit Seychelles.

The Minister for Natural Resources Peter Sinon emphasised that the national dialogue on the Blue Economy will provide a platform to diversify economic activity for greater gain while protecting fragile marine eco-systems.

Minister Sinon remarked that “the bold, determined and aggressive embrace and promotion of the Blue Economy concept by President Michel is today bearing fruits. The global community has awoken to the vast potentials of our living and resourceful oceans. As custodians of 1.3 million square kilometres of exclusive economic zone, we remain resolute to sustainably diversify our economic activities and increase our returns. The Blue Economy is a new exciting frontier. Seychelles is poised with like-minded partners to ride on this relatively new wave of sustainable economic opportunity with the same care and credibility that we currently enjoy when it comes to respect for nature and the environment”.

The organisers of the event request those wishing to attend to fill a registration form and submit it to the Seychelles Fishing Authority before December 2, 2014.

The forum programme can be accessed at the following link: http://www.statehouse.gov.sc/uploads/downloads/filepath_74.doc
As for registration forms, they can be accessed at http://www.statehouse.gov.sc/uploads/downloads/filepath_73.doc or collected at the Seychelles Fishing Authority from Karine Rassool.