Timor-Leste celebrates World Oceans Day 2024 « Government of Timor-Leste

Dili, 7 June 2024 – The Ninth Constitutional Government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmao, will mark World Oceans Day 2024 with a series of events from 8 to 18 June.

This year’s World Oceans Day focuses on the development of Timor-Leste’s blue economy. Under the slogan of the government-led national campaign, “Ha’u-nia Tasi, Ha’u-nia Timor” (O Meu Mar, O Meu Timor), this year’s celebrations will begin on Saturday, June 8, with a cleanup of the coastal areas of Dili, the capital of East Timor.

Several other events are planned for the day, including the launch of the “Peixe Azul” campaign by the President of the Republic, José Ramos-Horta, in front of the Government Palace, to highlight the dangers of plastic bottles and plastics polluting our oceans. This serious environmental problem needs to be addressed. This will be followed by the launch of the children’s book “O Meu Mar, O Meu Timor” in 2019 by Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão. Sanana Reading Roomin Dili.

Focal points and representatives from ministries and national institutions will hold a training on the blue economy from June 10 to 12 at the Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão Auditorium of the Ministry of Finance. The training course aims to strengthen the economic, social and environmental use of aquatic resources in Timor-Leste.

Three separate one-day training sessions will also be held on June 13 and 18, targeting civil society organizations, the private sector, NGOs, the media, future young ambassadors of the blue economy and presidents of municipalities.

The training was organized by the Land and Maritime Borders Office (GFTM) and was given by Mr. Álvaro Sardinha, a trainer and consultant specialized in the Blue Economy in Portugal. Mr. Álvaro will also give a special presentation to the Council of Ministers on Wednesday, June 12, on the potential and opportunities of the Blue Economy in Timor-Leste.

On June 14, the Blue Economy Marine Tourism Expo, hosted by the Ministry of Tourism and Environment, will be held in the central space of Timor Square and will feature stalls from local stakeholders and businessmen involved in the marine tourism sector. This one-day event will help stimulate interest in Timor-Leste’s marine tourism products and potential.

On June 15-16, Mr. Alvaro and the team from GFTM’s Blue Economy Unit will travel to Atauro Island to interact with local authorities and leaders, association leaders, tourism and sector support focal points, including young people, to socialize the concept of the Blue Economy. Mr. Alvaro will also visit community cooperatives in the towns of Beloi and Mometa, and will visit the coral reefs of Atauro to see first-hand the island’s marine biodiversity.

World Oceans Day is celebrated around the world on 8 June every year to remind us of the importance of the oceans we all share and rely on for food, medicine and the biosphere. The main objectives of World Oceans Day are to publicize the negative impacts of human actions and activities on the oceans, to launch a global movement for ocean stewardship, and to mobilize and unite the world’s people for sustainable ocean management.

In East Timor, the ninth constitutional Government was formed under the leadership of Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão, with a focus on developing the country’s blue economy, which is to look at the country’s other resources in the Timor Sea and use its oil and gas resources to promote East Timor’s development and improve the living conditions of its people.

For a full calendar of World Oceans Week events in Timor-Leste, scan the QR code below: