Mancham hails President Michel’s ‘Blue Economy’ initiatives |17 February 2014

Former President James R. Mancham leaves Seychelles on Wednesday this week to attend The Economist’s World Ocean Summit which will take place from February 24-26 at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Half Moon Bay, San Francisco, USA.

Mr Mancham, who was personally invited as a member of the Board of Advisers of the Ocean Exchange of Savannah, Georgia, USA, said he was very much looking forward to the event particularly as his views coincide with that of President James Michel, who stated in his foreword to ‘Seychelles’ vision for a Blue Horizon’, that island nations such as Seychelles are defined by the oceans that surround them, isolate them, and connect them to the rest of the world.

Mr Mancham said he wanted to commend President Michel for referring to Seychelles as a “Determined Nation” at this time when the United Nations has proposed 2014 as the “International Year of Small Island Developing States”.

“Seychelles under President Michel’s leadership has over recent years, achieved a lot to justify the stand I have taken at many international forums over the years that no country is small if is surrounded by the sea and the fact that, even if we come from a small country, this does not necessarily mean we are small people,” said Mr Mancham.

Mr Mancham said he was grateful for the support he has received from the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Jean-Paul Adam and the Minister for Environment and Energy, Professor Rolph Payet, with respect to his participation in this important event.

Confirmed speakers at World Ocean Summit 2014 include Prince of Monaco HSH Prince Albert II, United States deputy assistant secretary for Oceans and Fisheries David Balton, United Nations Environment Programme executive director Achim Steiner, Global Ocean Commission co-chair José Maria Figueres, Starwood Hotels and Resorts chief executive officer Frits van Paasschen, The Wrigley Company former chief executive officer and chairman William “Beau” Wrigley, European Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Maria Damanaki, Indonesia’s Minister for Marine Affairs and Fisheries Sharif Sutardjo, Chile Minister for the Environment Maria Ignacia Benitez Pereira and many more.

As part of the summit, Mr Mancham has accepted the invitation of The Economist to a welcome cocktail reception and the invitation of The National Geographic for a gala dinner.

He said that he will be hand-carrying a certain amount of copies of the “The Blue Economy” book duly signed by President Michel for presentation to some of the major players at the summit.