Former Seychelles President to deliver Sustainable Ocean Summit keynote

James Alix Michel, former President of the Seychelles from 2004 to 2016, will address the opening plenary of the fifth Sustainable Ocean Summit (SOS), organised by the World Ocean Council (WOC).

“I am honoured to be opening the World Ocean Council’s Sustainable Ocean Summit,” said Former President Michel, author of Rethinking the Oceans: Towards the Blue Economy. “Ocean industry leadership and collaboration is essential to ensuring a healthy and productive ocean and sustaining the ocean economy, especially for small island states such as the Seychelles.”

The former head of state added, “By bringing together the diverse international ocean industry and investment community, the World Ocean Council plays a critical role in addressing ocean sustainability. The SOS is the only annual gathering of the global ocean business community dedicated to sustainable development – creating a unique opportunity for business leaders from around the world and across the sectors to advance Corporate Ocean Responsibility.”

“The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) define the challenges of our time, of our growing population and of our fragile planet. The WOC has been leading the efforts to inform and engage the ocean business community on the SDGs. The SOS 2017 will focus global attention on ‘The Ocean Sustainable Development Goal (SDG 14): Business Leadership and Business Opportunities’, a crucial theme for the future,” President Michel concluded.