The Regional Ocean Summit, an addition to Economist Impact’s World Ocean Summit series, is set to take place from May 14 to May 16 in the Kingdom of Jordan at the Dead Sea.
To be hosted near the Jordanian capital Amman under the patronage of King Abdullah II ibn Al Hussein in cooperation with the Aqaba Marine Park initiative and sponsored by the Government of Jordan and the Jordan Tourism Board, the summit will provide a platform for a global gathering of over 200 attendees, including heads of state, to share analysis and actionable insights and join discussions to find the delicate balance between protecting the ocean and fostering sustainable economic growth.
The summit boasts of an impressive roster of speakers, featuring influential government officials, industry pioneers, and revered academic scholars such as Raed Abu-Soud, minister of water and irrigation in Jordan, Fanny Douvere, coordinator of the World Heritage Marine Programme for UNESCO, Ove Hoegh-Guldberg, professor of marine studies for the International Panel on Climate Change and at the University of Queensland, Australia, and Philippe Cousteau, co-founder of EarthEcho International. Through their expertise and diverse perspectives, the summit will explore opportunities and challenges crucial to the sustainability of the region’s marine ecosystems.
The summit’s agenda spans an array of topics, including climate change mitigation, innovative financing mechanisms, marine conservation, blue economy initiatives, and advances in ocean-related technologies. The summit aims to cultivate an atmosphere of collaboration and innovation, with a focus on regional challenges and opportunities.
Jordan’s strategic location at the crown of the Red Sea, the southern part of which is currently almost a war zone, gives the summit particular importance as it presents an opportunity to address the advancement of the region’s blue economy. Attendees can expect engaging discussions, enlightening presentations, and unparalleled networking opportunities, a release from Economist Impact said.
The summit in cooperation with the Aqaba Marine Park initiative has been initiated with the political guidance and support of King Abdullah II. The marine park initiative combines an education aquarium and an applied science and technology hub to help find solutions for ocean and climate crises far beyond Jordan’s shores, starting by caring for the resilient coral reefs and unique marine resources in the Gulf of Aqaba.
Participants will also get the opportunity to explore Jordan’s natural and cultural wonders and its dedication to the World Heritage Sites to contribute to conservation and environmental sustainability efforts. Optional tours will be offered to visit the Holy Baptism site (Bethany Beyond the Jordan-Al Maghtas), Wadi Rum Protected Area (valley of the moon), and the Aqaba Marine Nature Reserve part of the Red Sea ecosystem.
Reflecting on the significance of hosting the event in Jordan, Nayef Al Fayez, chief commissioner of the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority, said, “The Regional World Ocean Summit will be an excellent platform to highlight Jordan’s pioneering initiatives that serve as a model for turning challenges into beneficial contributions that extend beyond Jordan’s geographic boundaries and the only sea-window in Aqaba; emphasizing the importance of conservation and sustainable resource management and development for all natural resources to achieve the sustainable development goads and mitigate the climate change effects.”
Source: PR Newswire
