Sustainability for the Oceans

1. BLUE ECONOMY: REGIONAL
PARTNERSHIPS TO ACCELERATE
DEVELOPMENT

2. A sustainable Blue Economy is one that…
…contributing to food security, poverty
eradication, livelihoods, income, employment,
health, safety, equity, tourism and political
stability.
…the natural capital upon which
its prosperity depends
Restores, protects
and maintains the
diversity,
productivity and
intrinsic value of
marine ecosystems
THE BLUE ECONOMY CONCEPTUALISES OCEANS AS DEVELOPMENT SPACES
Provides economic
benefits for current
and future
generations
Provides social
benefits for current
and future
generations

3. Bangladesh Context
• Bay of Bengal is our ‘Third Neighbour’
– Connects us with 334 million sq km of ocean area
• Promoting the Blue Economy concept is a foreign policy priority
– Maritime boundaries settled with Myanmar (2012) & India (2014)
– Focus now on creation of jobs, livelihoods, poverty alleviation
• Supported the SIDS at the Open Working Group on SDGs
• Gathered regional attention through the Blue Economy Workshop in
Dhaka, September 2014
• Organised a high-level panel discussion on the sidelines of ESCAP
71st session in Bangkok, May 2015

4. Challenges Faced
• Climate change;
• Rising demand for resources;
• Unplanned technological development;
• Unplanned use of marine resources
Much more needs to be done for developing marine scientific and
technological capacity. Requires enhanced technical and financial
assistance and capacity building.

5. Areas for Regional Cooperation
• A key component of cooperation for the Blue Economy approach is Research.
– Enhanced understanding of the oceans needed through a science-based approach
– Assessment and critical evaluation needed of the ‘blue capital’ that we can utilize
in a sustainable manner.
– Utilise expertise of bodies such as IUCN, UNEP, SCOR etc.
• Updating and advancing governance mechanisms to ensure sustainable
development of waters beyond national jurisdiction (e.g. maritime security,
high seas marine protected areas, sustainable fisheries, oil and mineral
extraction
– Utilise expertise of agencies such as IUCN, FAO, ISBA etc.
– Pursue a global legally binding treaty to safeguard the oceans beyond national
boundaries (Agreement reached, Jan ’15 to launch UN process)

6. Areas for Regional Cooperation (contd.)
• Assistance in enabling the effective management and
utilization of Exclusive Economic Zones (e.g. technology
transfer, technical assistance, marine spatial planning)
• Capacity building, finance to support national marine
spatial planning and effective monitoring, control and
surveillance.
– Potential role of newly created regional financial institutions, e.g.
Asian Infrastructure Bank, New Development Bank

7. Strengthening IUCN Role
➢Bangladesh commends IUCN for its scientific
work and analysis on the oceans and marine
resources
➢ Conservation of Marine Resources is a critical component of Blue
Economy
➢ Should continue to follow progress towards a global legally binding
treaty to safeguard the oceans beyond national boundaries, as launched
by UN member states in January 2015 in New York

8. Concluding Remarks
➢ Bangladesh would continue to promote multi-stakeholder
partnerships and cooperation regionally and globally to
establish and consolidate Blue Economy principles and
practices for sustainable development and inclusive pro-
poor growth.
▪ South-south and triangular partnerships must to complement
North-South cooperation
➢ Productive synergy needed between the work of various
international agencies and scientific bodies within the
region and globally.
➢ Private sector potential needs to be tapped

9. Focused on the development of
the Circular Economy in Asia
We look forward to hearing from you soon!