Solomon Islands joins Blue Economy and Finance Forum in Monaco to advocate ocean finance access ahead of 2025 UNOC.
As momentum builds toward the 2025 United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC), the Secretary to the Prime Minister (SPM), Dr. Melchior Mataki, represented Solomon Islands at the Blue Economy and Finance Forum (BEFF), held from 7–8 June at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco.
The BEFF is a finance-focused event convened ahead of the main UNOC, bringing together governments, international organisations, private sector representatives, and civil society actors. Its purpose is to catalyse investment, innovation, and policy collaboration to support a resilient and sustainable blue economy.
Reflecting on the sessions, Dr. Mataki noted that discussions centred on scaling finance for ocean conservation and blue economy initiatives.
“The ocean economy is worth several trillion dollars globally, yet less than 1% of that finance reaches ocean conservation. This highlights that SDG14 is underfunded and off track,” he said.
He emphasised that addressing this imbalance requires mobilising new and additional finance at a pace and scale that meets the vast funding gaps in ocean conservation efforts.
Saturday’s plenary sessions focused on themes such as “Investing for Ocean Health, Preservation and Resilience” and “Financing a Regenerative and Sustainable Blue Economy.” These discussions align with Solomon Islands’ ongoing advocacy for improved access to ocean finance for Small Island Developing States (SIDS).
The Forum continues on Sunday with sessions addressing maritime transport decarbonisation, coastal infrastructure adaptation, and sustainable ocean governance and finance. The event will conclude with remarks from HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco and invited Heads of State.
Following the BEFF, the Solomon Islands delegation will attend the 2025 United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC) from 9–13 June in Nice, France. The delegation will continue to advocate for urgent and sustained action to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 14: Life Below Water.
Source: OPMC Press Secretariat
