President of Cabo Verde advocates integrated ocean governance at Synergy Conference

Praia, Jun 25 (Inforpress) – The President of the Republic of Cabo Verde, José Maria Neves, today described the Blue Economy as a driver of economic transformation and resilience for Small Island Developing States (SIDS).

The Head of State, addressing the Synergy Conference in Southern Africa online, stressed that, for a country such as Cabo Verde, where 99 per cent (%) of the territory is sea, the sustainable management of ocean resources is a matter of “sovereignty and survival”.

“The sea represents a structuring element of our historical and cultural identity, a high-potential economic asset and a strategic axis for international integration,” he stated, arguing that the mere existence of marine resources does not, in itself, guarantee the generation of economic prosperity.

He emphasised that transforming this potential into tangible benefits for the population depends on the “quality of public policies and the effectiveness of governance mechanisms”.

PC/HF

Inforpress/End