The coastal city of Grand-Bassam hosted a pivotal gathering on Thursday, July 30, 2026, as the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) convened a validation workshop for four thematic reports on the blue economy. The event aims to align these findings with national priorities for sustainable development and unlock new partnership avenues to propel the sector forward.
Dedi Séraphin, FAO Côte d’Ivoire’s program manager, emphasized the agency’s long-standing collaboration with the Ivorian government. He highlighted their joint efforts in shaping policies that bolster food security, promote sustainable natural resource management, and—through a dedicated blue economy initiative—enhance the responsible exploitation of aquatic, fishing, and coastal resources.
“These thematic reports serve as strategic decision-making tools,” Mr. Séraphin stated, “guiding public policies and investments in the blue economy while reflecting on-the-ground realities and national priorities.” He urged participants to leverage the two-day workshop to pinpoint concrete public-private partnership opportunities and scrutinize the reports with a critical yet constructive lens. The goal? To craft actionable, prioritized recommendations with clearly defined responsibilities.
Reaffirming FAO’s commitment, he outlined the organization’s readiness to support Côte d’Ivoire in implementing the workshop’s outcomes. This includes deploying technical expertise and fostering dialogue among public, private, and technical partners to translate recommendations into tangible, time-bound actions. The ultimate aim is to position the blue economy as a sustainable driver of food security, job creation, and resilience.
Dr. Kaba Ibrahima, technical advisor to the Minister of Animal and Fisheries Resources, echoed this commitment. He underscored the government’s resolve to implement the workshop’s recommendations, fostering a sustainable blue economy that supports food sovereignty, youth employment, and economic growth. Dr. Kaba extended the government’s gratitude to FAO for its unwavering technical and methodological support, reaffirming the need to deepen this partnership to meet national aspirations.
Collaborative blueprint for sustainable growth
The workshop brings together key blue economy stakeholders: sector experts, researchers, representatives from relevant ministries, private sector players, technical and financial partners, and civil society organizations. The two-day session concludes on Friday, July 31, 2026, with a roadmap poised to accelerate Côte d’Ivoire’s blue economy ambitions.
