Background

The ocean economy is expected to double to $3 trillion by 2030, employing 40 million people, as compared to 2010. Blue Finance offers tremendous opportunities to help address pressing challenges and contribute to economic growth, improved livelihoods, and the health of marine ecosystems.

In the Mediterranean region, the main sources of investments in the sustainable blue economy include public funding opportunities offered by International Organisations, governments, Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) and “green funds”. Such funding is offered in the form of grants or lending instruments aimed at the co-financing of projects and providing support to infrastructure development and SMEs. In parallel, the private sector is showing increasing interest in sustainable investments through innovative financial instruments, such as “blue bonds”.

the UfM conference on Blue Finance aims at:

1. Providing an overview of the current investment opportunities for the sustainable development of the Mediterranean Blue Economy and Offering practical guidance on the procedures to follow;
2.  Discussing the enabling conditions  (policy/regulatory environment; technical assistance; etc.), to attract funding
3.  Organising direct networking opportunities and matchmaking sessions between countries and businesses and financial institutions, banks or investors.