On 21 November 2025, Georgia’s National Hub hosted a hybrid event in Batumi, strategically aligned with the celebration of Georgian National Day. The event was designed to strengthen knowledge-sharing and foster collaboration among local and regional stakeholders involved in the blue economy.
The event brought together a diverse group of participants, including government representatives, academic institutions, the private sector, international experts, and regional partners. Discussions focused on policy updates, technical group activities, and emerging opportunities for cross-border cooperation. Key thematic areas included marine governance, sustainable tourism, maritime transport, fisheries, and aquaculture, relevant to advancing the region’s sustainable development agenda.
Prior to the event, a dedicated session featured the CMA Technical Group on Sustainable Tourism, where experts presented ongoing initiatives and explored opportunities for joint research, capacity building, and responsible tourism models. The discussion highlighted the importance of coordinated management across borders to ensure long-term sustainability across the region, laying a good foundation for the next sessions.
The main event started with an overview of recent national policies and strategies supporting Georgia’s Blue Economy objectives. These updates demonstrated the country’s progress in aligning national priorities with EU principles, reinforcing its commitment to sustainable growth in the Black Sea region.
Participants also gained insights into funding mechanisms for the blue economy development, including European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) opportunities, and learned about innovation and partnership requirements for cross-border projects. The event concluded with an interactive Q&A session, encouraging further exchanges on topics such as sustainable maritime tourism, modernisation of ports and maritime transport, and innovation in fisheries and aquaculture. These conversations, shaped in consultation with National Coordinators, aimed to inspire collaboration, generate new project ideas, and promote sustainable investment across the region’s blue economy sectors.