On the sidelines of the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC) Summit of Heads of State and Government held in Antananarivo, Madagascar, on April 24, 2025, the delegation from the Government of the Republic of Seychelles — including H.E. Sylvestre Radegonde, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Tourism, H.E. Flavien Joubert, Minister of Agriculture, Climate Change, and Environment, H.E. Claude Morel, Ambassador, and Mr. Ralph Agrippine, Senior Advisor — held an official meeting with the leadership of the Pan-African Youth Organization for the Blue Economy (OPJEB), led by its Continental Executive Bureau President, Mr. Ernest Tindo. The meeting took place on the afternoon of April 23, 2025, at the Novotel in Antananarivo.
The meeting followed the 2nd edition of the Forum of Young Africans on the Blue Economy (FOJAEB), held in Toliara, Madagascar, from April 17 to 19, 2025. On this occasion, H.E. Sylvestre Radegonde was awarded the Best For Africa Award for Excellence in African Blue Economy Development (Leadership Category).
Seychelles — widely recognized as a continental leader in the Blue Economy — was the first country in the world to issue a blue bond, pioneering innovative finance for sustainable ocean-based development. The FOJAEB 2025 jury praised Minister Radegonde’s efforts to promote sustainable coastal and marine tourism in the Seychelles, aligning with global climate and conservation goals.
President Ernest Tindo stated that the award represents both recognition and encouragement from Africa’s youth to the Seychelles Government and its Department of Foreign Affairs, for its visionary role in developing the blue economy — seen as a new frontier for Africa’s renaissance.
Accepting the award on behalf of the Seychelles Government, Minister Radegonde expressed appreciation, congratulated OPJEB and Madagascar’s Ministry of Fisheries and Blue Economy on the success of FOJAEB, and reaffirmed Seychelles’ strong commitment to supporting OPJEB initiatives. The Government of Seychelles also expressed interest in hosting future OPJEB activities.
Source: matinlibre
