This session explores key trends shaping the sustainable ocean economy, with a focus on trade in marine-based goods and services that support food systems.
Drawing on UNCTAD's data and analytical work, it will highlight emerging patterns in ocean trade, investment, and value chains - particularly in seafood and related sectors.
By identifying risks and opportunities, the session will support efforts to align ocean economic growth with sustainability, food security, and climate goals.
Speakers:
Moderator:
- Mr. Onno Hoffmesiter, Project Officer, UNCTAD
Panelists:
- Mr. David Vivas Eugui, Chief of Section a.i. Ocean and Circular Economy Unit. Trade, Environment, Climate Change and Sustainable Development Branch, UNCTAD
- Mr. Sajal Mathur, Counsellor, Trade and Environment Division, World Trade Organization
- Ms. Lorena Rivera Orjuela, Fisheries Policy Analyst, OECD
- Ms. Diana Fernandez Reguera, FAO
Onno Hoffmeister joined the UN Trade and Development's (UNCTAD) Statistics Service in 2015.
He previously worked as statistician at the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nation (FAO) and Eurostat and as researcher at the University of Hamburg and the German Institute for Economic Research. He was engaged as consultant for the GIZ and the German Federal Ministry of Economics in capacity building ("twinning") projects of the European Commission.
In 2024, he led UNCTAD's comprehensive assessment of the impact of mid-term IMO GHG reduction measures on States and in 2023 the development of the UNCTAD - World Bank Trade-and-Transport Dataset. He coordinated the statistical work behind many of UNCTADs online datasets including on ocean trade and maritime transport.
He holds a PhD in Economics from the European University Viadrina and has 25 years of experience in statistics, economic analysis and capacity building. He published in the Journal of Shipping and Trade, the Statistical Journal of the IAOS, Agricultural Economics, the Review of Income and Wealth and other peer-reviewed journals. He is member of the UN Committee of Experts on Business and Trade Statistics, the International Association for Official Statistics, and the German Association for Social Policy.
David Vivas Eugui is Chief of Ocean and Circular Economy Unit, a.i., Trade, Environment, Climate Change and Sustainable Development Branch, at UNCTAD.
Previously, he was a Senior Economic Affairs Officer in UNCTAD’s Trade Negotiations and Commercial Diplomacy Branch, Deputy Programmes Director at the International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development (ICTSD), Senior Attorney at the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL), Attaché for Legal Affairs at the Mission of Venezuela to the World Trade Organization (WTO) and Staff Attorney at the Venezuelan Institute of Foreign Trade. David is an international expert with more than 20 years of experience on legal and economic issues.
He has worked as an advisor and consultant for various institutions, international and national organizations and has lectured on intellectual property, trade, oceans economy and environmental law at the University of Strasbourg (CEIPI), Universidad de Buenos Aires (Argentina), Universidad Javeriana (Colombia), Maastricht University (the Netherlands), WIPO Distant Learning Academy, and University of Business and International Studies (Switzerland).
He holds a JD from the Universidad Catolica Andres Bello, an LLM from Georgetown University and a Master in Transnational Business from the Universidad Externado de Colombia.
Sajal Mathur is a Counsellor in the Trade and Environment Division of the World Trade Organization (WTO).
He has extensive experience on trade and sustainable development issues and has previously worked as a Professor at the Centre for WTO Studies at the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade. Sajal Mathur has completed his studies in Economics from Delhi University (St. Stephens’ College), Jawaharlal Nehru University and the London School of Economics (specialization in Environment and Development Economics).
He also has a post graduate degree in Business Law from the National Law School of India in Bangalore.
Lorena is a policy analyst at the fisheries and aquaculture unit of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Main areas of work include subsidies and government support measures to the fisheries sector, and government policies to tackle Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing.
Before joining the OECD, Lorena worked for the Colombian Ministry of Trade, and served as delegate to the World Trade Organisation, where she took part in the Fisheries Subsidies Agreement, adopted in June 2022.
Dr Diana Fernández de la Reguera, a marine scientist specializing in climate change and aquatic food production systems, has over 15 years of international experience spanning academia and policy.
Currently serving in the FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Division, Diana provides strategic and technical support in advancing sustainable aquatic food systems and effective value chains. Key contributions include the planning and implementation of FAO’s Blue Transformation Roadmap and related initiatives.
Diana holds a degree in Marine Sciences, a master’s in Coastal and Water Management, a master’s in Earth and Environmental Sciences, and a PhD in Marine and Coastal Management. Past roles include academic appointments in Europe and the United States, and advisory work for international organizations. Diana has published widely in leading academic journals, and contributed to major technical publications, guidelines, and declarations.
