This event will interrogate the complex geopolitical, trade, financial and capacity challenges faced by countries undertaking the transition to a sustainable ocean economy towards the achievement of SDG 14.
Panelists will explore the importance of integrated solutions that include the governance bedrock needed to support the development of sustainable ocean economies, with a focus on real-world examples of the challenges faced in various geographies.
The United Nations 5th Ocean Forum, which took place in March 2025 and was chaired by Costa Rica and France, offers a valuable set of recommendations that emphasize the critical need to foster international cooperation, enhance ocean economic governance, build resilient and sustainable ocean economies, and promote best practice in sustainable trade, investment, finance, maritime transport, and logistics.
The event will illuminate the challenges countries face in transitioning to a sustainable ocean economy and provide practical responses grounded in action-oriented partnerships for sustainable development.
The event will highlight existing integrated solutions and demonstrate how the global community can support governments, regions, and communities in achieving a sustainable ocean economy.
Speakers:
Co-chairs:
- Mr. David Vivas Eugui, Senior Economic Affairs Officer
- Mr. Francine Pickup, Head of UNDP Delegation
Panelists:
- H.E. Mr. Arnoldo André Tinoco, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Costa Rica
- H.E. Mr. Moses Vilakati, AU Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment (ARBE) Department, AUC
- Mr. Manuel Barange, Assistant Director General, FAO
- Ms. Susan Gardner, Director of Ecosystems Division, UNEP
Logistics:
This UNOC3 side event will be held in the Blue Zone: Port Lympia, 06300 Nice, France.
Access is restricted to accredited participants with official UNOC3 badges. This area hosts the main Conference sessions, high-level panels, and official side events.
David Vivas Eugui is Chief (a.i) of the Trade, Environment 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.
