By Emma Black

Madam Kenyeh Barlay

Sierra Leone’s Minister of Planning and Economic Development (MoPED), Madam Kenyeh Barlay, made a significant impact at the Third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3) in Nice, France. On June 2025 the Minister of Planning Joined by Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources Princess Dugba and Minister of Environment and Climate Change Abudulai Jiwoh, Barlay spearheaded efforts to elevate Sierra Leone’s role in ocean sustainability and Blue Economy growth.

A key highlight was Barlay’s leadership in organizing Sierra Leone’s high-profile Blue Economy Investment Expo on June 12 at the A Casa d’i Soci conference room in Monaco. This side event showcased the country’s investment potential and mobilized resources to advance the Blue Economy National Action Plan. In her keynote address, Barlay emphasized Sierra Leone’s readiness for collaboration, we are open and eager for investment in our Blue Economy sectors, committed to harnessing marine resources for sustainable, inclusive growth, she declared, urging investors to join this transformative journey.

The Expo drew a diverse array of international attendees, including private investors, development partners, international NGOs, the African Union Commission, AUDA-NEPAD, the African Export-Import Bank, Icelandic representatives, and Liberia’s Special Envoy on Climate Change and the Blue Economy, fostering robust dialogue.

Throughout UNOC3, Barlay and her team engaged in critical bilateral meetings and thematic side events. A notable discussion with Iceland’s Director General for International Development Cooperation explored marine and coastal development opportunities. They also participated in Iceland’s side event on blue foods, promoting sustainability and food security, and met with the West Africa Sustainable Ocean Programme (WASOP) to enhance regional cooperation. The delegation contributed to AU events on Africa’s Blue Economy aspirations and a UK Hydrographic Office session on ocean mapping, reinforcing Sierra Leone’s commitment to sustainable governance.

These efforts yielded strategic commitments from AUDA-NEPAD, the Green Economy Partnership, and WASOP, the MoPED’s Blue Economy Secretariat will now oversee follow-up, submitting bankable project profiles to convert these pledges into tangible investments, marking a promising step forward for Sierra Leone’s marine future.

Copyright –Published in Expo Times News on Wednesday, 18th June, 2025 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)