Emerging Ocean Economic Sectors: Investment Opportunities for Small Island Developing States in a New Ocean Governance Context

Global trade in ocean goods and services reached $2.55 trillion in 2025. Services, led by marine and coastal tourism, now account for 60 per cent of it. Small island developing States (SIDS) export ten times more ocean goods and services per capita than the global average, yet capture a small share of the value and of the capital flowing into emerging ocean sectors. This session is part of a broader WIF track focusing on SIDS economies, their development challenges – including the need for investment in climate adaptation and economic resilience – as well a the opportunities offered by tourism.

With the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement) and the World Trade Organisation Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies in force, the session asks how this new governance context can be turned into bankable investment and trade projects. UNCTAD will present two partnerships:  to expand its Ocean Economy and SIDS Fund, launching its first funded project on marine and coastal tourism and related environmental and digital services in São Tomé and Príncipe, and to support seaweed production, value addition and market access. A roundtable will then look at financing suited to SIDS, from blue bonds and debt-for-nature swaps to blended finance, guarantees and development bank lending.

Additional background: 

Harnessing international marine and coastal tourism and related environmental and digital services in São Tomé and Príncipe

Transforming Indonesia’s seaweed sector