Online and Offline Hybrid 'World Ocean Forum' Opens in Busan

Three-Day Grand Journey Starting 27th... Peter Thomson, UN Ocean Envoy, Keynote Speech
First B2B Online Matching Among Shipbuilding and Marine Companies at Forum
Expected to Generate Tangible Business Outcomes in Marine Industry and Environmental Ca

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yong-woo] The '2020 14th World Ocean Forum (WOF),' an international event addressing the marine industry and environmental campaigns, will embark on a three-day journey starting with the opening ceremony at 3:30 PM on the 27th.

Since its inception in 2007, the World Ocean Forum, now in its 14th edition, will be held as an 'online hybrid forum' to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The event is jointly hosted by Busan City, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, and Busan Ilbo.

As the first comprehensive forum on the domestic marine industry, various programs that overcome the limitations of offline events, such as B2B business meetings and marine environmental campaigns, will be presented.

Under the theme 'One more Step toward Sustainable Future of Oceans,' this forum consists of a total of 13 programs including ▲a keynote session, ▲four regular sessions, ▲four special sessions, ▲an epilogue session, and ▲three special programs.

The forum will feature over 60 speakers and panelists from 12 countries.

▲In the keynote session, Peter Thomson, the world's first United Nations Special Envoy for the Ocean, will deliver a lecture titled 'One more Step toward the Future, Oceans in the New Normal Era.'

Peter Thomson has served as a Fijian diplomat and UN Permanent Representative and is currently the UN's first Special Envoy for the Ocean. He leads the implementation of the marine resource conservation and sustainable use sector (SDG-14) among the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

He identifies 'animal-borne infections caused by the destruction of natural habitats' as a major cause in the pandemic era and emphasizes that maintaining a clean marine environment is key to purifying the Earth's environment.

To this end, he plans to address practical alternatives such as reducing plastic use, achieving carbon neutrality through the implementation of the Paris Climate Agreement, and community-based measures like conserving fishery resources.

Following the keynote, a discussion will be held with Prode Sulberg, Ambassador of the Norwegian Embassy in Korea, and Lee Jae-myung, Director of the Hydrogen Ship Technology Center and Professor of Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering at Pusan National University, to discuss the new marine industry in the new normal era and propose 'Korean solutions.'

This year's forum also provides opportunities to generate tangible business outcomes in the marine industry.

For the first time in the forum's history, the Canadian Embassy in Korea and the OTCNS (Nova Scotia Offshore Technology Council) of Halifax, Canada, will jointly conduct B2B online matchmaking with companies in the shipbuilding and marine sectors.

The forum will focus on creating practical global marine business through the first online B2B networking.

Byun Sung-wan, Acting Mayor of Busan, said, "Although the COVID-19 crisis has caused difficulties not only locally but also internationally, we will spread Korea's leading ideas to the international community and gain empathy, following the forum's main theme, 'One more Step toward the Future.'"

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.