This session will spotlight the growing role of South-South trade in shaping more resilient and inclusive fisheries and aquaculture sectors.
As developing countries increasingly trade seafood and aquaculture products among themselves, new opportunities are emerging to build sustainable ocean food systems rooted in regional cooperation.
Using UNCTAD data and case examples, the session will explore how South-South trade can drive innovation, value addition, and food security - while advancing sustainability and economic development across the Global South.
Speakers:
Moderator:
- Onno Hoffmeister, 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. Katarina Sipic, Secretary-General, EU Fish Processors and Traders Association (AIPCE) and the European Federation of national Organisations of Importers and Exporters of Fish (CEP)
- Ms. Joyeeta Das, Founder and CEO, Samudra Oceans
- Mr. Jorge Barbosa, Sustainable Development Expert and Lecturer, Yale University
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.
Katarina serves as the Secretary General of AIPCE.CEP since 2020, the European Association of Fish Processors and Traders.
The association's efforts in Brussels focus on shaping the EU policy and legislation impacting the sector. AIPCE.CEP represents 15 national associations from 9 EU Member States, the UK, and Norway, which collectively encompass over 3,900 businesses and 128,000 jobs.
Her background includes previous experience with the Spanish Association of Wholesalers, Importers, Exporters and Manufacturers of Fishery and Aquaculture Products.
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.
Over the past 15 years, Jorge has led programs on marine and coastal governance, climate adaptation, and biodiversity conservation across Latin America, the Caribbean, Asia-Pacific, and the Gulf.
Jorge’s work has contributed to global dialogues on ocean sustainability, mobilizing over US$10 million in program funding, and informed innovative policy solutions in collaboration with national governments and multilateral partners. For example, serving as an ‘ocean advisor’ and working closely with ambassadors’ part of the Pacific Small Islands Developing States (PSIDS), Jorge made significant contributions to the negotiations and drafting of the original SDG 14 concept note in 2013.
Whether at the World Bank, the United Nations, or in high-level advisory roles in governments [e.g., Saudi Arabia], Jorge has consistently applied results-driven leadership, technical rigor, and a deep commitment to inclusive development. Jorge’s hobbies include SCUBA Diving and sailing ‘traditionally rigged’ vessels.
