Blue Week 2016
An International Conference to Promote
Blue Growth and Investment
Towards unlocking the value of maritime and coastal assets for
economic growth while conserving natural and social capital
St. George’s, Grenada ••• May 14 to 22, 2016
Organized and hosted by the Government of Grenada with support from the Government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in
collaboration with the Global Ocean Forum (GOF), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the
Clinton Climate Initiative, the World Bank, the Global Environment Facility, RARE, The Nature Conservancy (TNC),
Caribbean Challenge Initiative, The Organization of American States (OAS), the University of Delaware’s
Gerard J. Mangone Center for Marine Policy, GLISPA, the Center for Responsible Travel (CREST),
and other public and private partners.
Government
of Grenada
Global Ocean Forum
OAS
Food and Agriculture Organization
of the United Nations
University of Delaware
Global Island
Partnership
RATIONALE
The Blue Week 2016 and Investment Conference represents a response to major recent
developments in the global oceans agenda: The adoption of the Agenda 2030 by the United
Nations in 2015, including the Sustainable Development Goal on oceans and seas (SDG 14),
and the Paris Agreement, concluded at the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change
in December 2015.
2. Identify partnerships for promoting bankable
projects and secure investment in the priority sectors.
MAIN OBJECTIVES OF THE
CONFERENCE
3. Design the elements of an Oceans Campaign to
promote Blue Growth, Investment and Food Security
by working with Ocean Champions.
Blue Week 2016 focuses on bringing together ocean-related investments into a coherent package of bankable
projects to increase the economic benefits of SmallIsland Developing States (SIDS) and Least Developed
Countries (LDCs).
APPROACH
Blue Week 2016 will:
This conference intends to “move the needle” on ocean
health through investment in Blue Growth and Food
Security and contribute to increasing the economic
benefits from marine and maritime commerce. In
particular, the Conference will:
oEngage high level political leadership in the
planning and execution of Blue Growth
initiatives.
o Engage leaders in the private sector and
financial institutions to promote investment,
innovation and to form public-private
partnerships.
1. Establish a Blue Growth Network to:
o Harness ocean-based investment initiatives into
a coherent package of bankable projects.
o Learn lessons from existing efforts at innovation in Blue Growth from different parts of
the world.
o Recognize that integrated approaches are vital
for sustainability of investments, to reduce
pressure on marine habitats and biodiversity,
and ensure sustainable livelihoods.
o Provide a platform to discuss these initiatives,
assess the lessons and the potential for scaling
up and replication.
o Recognize that capacity development—from
coastal zones, to Exclusive Economic Zone
to Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction—is essential to achieving Blue Growth and Food
Security while retaining the health and benefits
of ocean coastal systems.
o Identify innovative financial instruments
such as Debt for Nature Swaps to reduce
climate change impacts and to promote
ocean-based energy.
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EVENT SCHEDULE
Day
Theme
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5
Day 6
Day 7
Day 8
Day 9
Day 10
Sat, 14th
Sun, 15th
Mon, 16th
Tue, 17th
Wed, 18th
Thu, 19th
Fri, 20th
Sat, 21st
Sun 22nd
Mon 23rd
Pre-Conference
Partner
Event
Main
Main
Main
Conference Conference Conference
Partner
Event
Partner
Event
Partner Event
Networking
Departures
Blue
Grenada
SIDS
Blue Growth and Investment
Conference
Workshop on Capacity Development for Blue
Growth and Food Security: Emphasis on Areas
Beyond National Jurisdiction (ABNJ) and
Linkages to EEZs
Networking
Departures
Caribbean
Challenge
Initiative (CCI)
Blue
Guardians
Clinton
Climate
Initiative
AM
Launch of
Blue Week
Blue Grenada
Caribbean
Challenge
Initiative (CCI)
Blue
Guardians Orientation,
Initiatives and
Case Studies
Official
Opening
FOOD
SECURITY
BLUE
FINANCE
INTEGRATED
APPROACHES AND
CAPACITY
DEVELOPMENT
Official
Opening
Capacity
development
challenges to
implement
global
prescriptions
on oceans,
including
Agenda 2030,
the Paris
Agreement
and for the
PrepCom on
BBNJ
Capacity
development
and technology develop
in ABNJ:
Challenges
and Opportunities
Working
Meetings
Excursion
Groups
Climate/oceans/
biodiversity
Multi-sector
area-based
planning
Lunch
Social Media Interviews
PM
Grenada
Investments
Parallel
Preparatory
Workshops
and Next
Steps
MODEL
DEALS
Fisheries and
Aquaculture
Tourism,
MPAs,
SHARK
TANKS
Marine Industries
Capacity
development
in EEZs and
ABNJ:
Needs and
Experiences
SHARK
TANKS
Official Close
Investmnet
Confeence
Evening
Organizers
Arrival and
Welcome
Official
Welcome
General
Arrivals
Cocktails &
Anouncements
Cocktails &
Anouncements
Beach
Barbecue
& ABNJ
Workshop
Welcome
Implementing
Capacity
development the oceans agenregarding da under the Paris
area-based
Agreement
management
Public outreach
Break-out
network Official
regional
Close
groups
Closing Cocktails
Mini-Ocean
Film Festival
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Excursion
Groups
The scope of the Blue Week 2016 and Investment Conference is global, with special
emphasis on SIDS, Latin America and the Caribbean. The Blue Week 2016 and
Investment Conference is led by the Government of Grenada through its Embassy
in Washington DC headed by H.E. Dr. Angus Friday, Ambassador to the United States
of America and Mexico and Permanent Representative to the Organisation
of American States.
Days 3, 4, 5. May 16, 17, and 18. The Main
Conference: The Blue Growth and Investment
Conference, features discussion and action on a range
of financial instruments to help SIDS and developing
countries to achieve Blue Growth and Food Security.
The Conference will include several “Shark Tanks,”
to consider possible funding opportunities for specific
projects.
CONFERENCE PROGRAM AT A GLANCE
The Blue Week 2016 and Investment Conference
consists of various, mutually supportive and interactive
elements, as noted in the table above. Participants are
invited to all of the various program opportunities
identified below.
Day 1. May 14, Launch of Blue Week,
Blue Grenada, emphasizes the opportunities for
realizing Blue Growth and Food Security in Grenada.
Organized by the Government of Grenada, the Government of
the Kingdom of the Netherlands, GOF, with collaboration from
the World Bank, the UN FAO, University of Delaware, TNC, the
Caribbean Challenge Initiative, RARE, and OAS
Organized by the Government of Grenada.
Government
of Grenada
Government
of Grenada
Day 2. May 15. SIDS and the Caribbean Challenge
Initiative (CCI) Initiative, reviews progress and outlines next steps. CCI is a regional effort, currently
involving 10 governments and 15 companies and
partners, to galvanize leadership, financial resources,
and regional collaboration to conserve and sustainably
manage the marine and coastal environment.
Global Ocean Forum
Food and Agriculture Organization
of the United Nations
OAS
University of Delaware
Day 6, 7, 8. May 19, 20, 21, Capacity Development
to Improve the Management of Marine Areas
Beyond National Jurisdiction (ABNJ) will examine
the requisite capacity development regarding areas
beyond national jurisdiction and linkages to national
ocean management in Exclusive Economic Zones, to
achieve sustainable development and to preserve and
properly manage ocean areas.
Organized by TNC and the Caribbean Challenge Initiative.
SIDS and the Blue Guardians, emphasize the
imperative of high-level political engagement in
achieving Blue Growth and food security, and the
value of technological approaches to enhancing
sustainable development of developing countries
and SIDS.
Organized by the Global Ocean Forum, the Food and Agriculture
Organization of the United Nations, the Government of Grenada,
and the University of Delaware, with financial support from the
Global Environment Facility.
Organized by the Clinton Climate Initiative.
Global Ocean Forum
Food and Agriculture Organization
of the United Nations
Government
of Grenada
University of Delaware
Day 10, May 22, Excursions. To be organized to
various locations in Grenada—the Underwater Sculpture Park, Tour of Fishing Towns (Round the island),
Carriacou/Sandy Island Marine Protected Area.
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BLUE GRENADA
The tri-island ocean state of Grenada is a hub of maritime activity. The marine environment is critical for
Grenada’s economy and is linked closely to Grenada’s
income-generating tourism sector. Grenada’s Prime
Minister – Dr. the Right Honourable Keith Mitchell has
taken a keen interest in Blue Growth and describes Grenada as an Ocean State with a vibrant blue economy
sector. This builds on his vision to create a smart island
economy as a global exemplar of sustainability. To better
manage this, Grenada has committed to conserving 25%
of its near shore marine space as part of the Caribbean
Challenge Initiative and with the support of the Dutch
Government, Grenada has prepared a coastal master
plan and blue growth investment prospectus.
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CONFERENCE VENUE
CONTACT INFORMATION
The Conference Events will be held at The Radisson
Grand Beach Resort (ten minutes or less from the
International Airport).
For more information on the substantive aspects of
the Conference, please contact Safiya Sawney,
Grenada Blue Team at [email protected]
GETTING THERE
For information on logistics, hotels, and local arrangements, please contact Jennifer Alexis, In-Country
Event Manager, via email at [email protected].
Grenada can be accessed directly from New York (4.5
hours) on Delta and Jet Blue and directly from Miami
(3 hours) on American Airlines. Grenada is also accessible from New York on Caribbean Airways via Trinidad.
Participants traveling from Europe, the Middle East,
Africa and Asia may access Grenada through London’s
Gatwick Airport on British Airways and Virgin Atlantic
(8 hours).
[email protected] Media Contact
NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES
Opportunities for professional interaction among the
Conference participants, conducive to the formation of
new investment and collaborative partnerships, will be
maximized through a variety of events, including receptions, beach bar-b-q, excursions, an ocean festival, and
the designation of networking and work spaces.
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