SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA – Several Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries are being represented at the 15th High-Level Forum on the Korea-Caribbean Partnership that began here on Tuesday.
The one-day event is being hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) and the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF) and is being held under the theme “Korea-Caribbean Cooperation for a Resilient and Sustainable Ocean”.
Since its inception in 2011, the Forum has covered a wide range of issues, including food security, public health, renewable energy, and Information, Communication and Technology (ICT).
The Forum brings together high-level government officials, representatives from international organizations, academia, experts, and the private sector with the organisers saying the goal is to share a wide range of ideas and perspectives on strengthening cooperation between the two regions.
They said that discussions will specifically target methods to bolster ocean resilience in the face of climate change and to explore pathways for achieving a sustainable Blue Economy.
The forum’s agenda is structured into two key sessions with the first session discussing “Korea-Caribbean Cooperation for a Healthy and Resilient Ocean in the Era of Climate Change.”
In the second session, “Korea-Caribbean Cooperation for a Sustainable Blue Economy” will hear presentations from Ava Maxam, the director of the Trinidad-based Institute of Marine Affairs, Belize Minister of the Blue Economy and Marine Conservation, Abner Andre Perez, who will speak on “Belize’s Blue Economy-Charting a Bold Course Toward a Blue Future”.
Grenada’s Special Envoy for Oceans, Jerry Jermain Enoe, will address the issue of “Innovating for Sustainability: Grenada’s Blue Economy Vision and Opportunities for Korea Caribbean Collaboration, Jerusa Ali, the Director General, Ministry of Foreign Affairs in The Bahamas, will address the topic “Exploring Pathways for Korea-Caribbean Cooperation on Maritime Resilience and a Sustainable Blue Economy”.
Trinidad and Tobago’s Foreign and CARICOM Affairs Minister, Sean Sobers, gave congratulatory remarks at the opening of the Forum, outlining his country’s perspectives on maritime challenges, climate resilience, and opportunities for strengthened marine collaboration with the Republic of Korea.
