The Minister of Home Affairs will be in Portugal next week to speak at a conference on the marine economy.

Walter Roban has been invited to deliver a presentation at the World Ocean Summit in Lisbon.

Event organiser Economist Impact said that the theme of this year’s conference is “Turning the tide to a sustainable ocean economy with an emphasis on action and how to regenerate ocean health”.

A statement on Economist Impact’s website said: “This annual flagship event convenes high-profile enterprise end users and thought leaders from the entire oceans ecosystem.

“The 2024 agenda will convene the widest cross-section of the ocean community from business and finance to government, national and international policymakers, civil society and academia.”

About 1,500 people are expected to attend the summit, which runs for three days from Monday.

Mr Roban, who is also the Deputy Premier, has been confirmed as one of 200 speakers at the event, including governmental and United Nations representatives, and senior executives from technology, finance and science.

Delegates will examine developments in shipping, finance, investment, climate, cities, energy, pollution, blue food, aquaculture, innovation and governance.

The statement said: “The sessions will move between high-level policy discussions in the plenaries, detailed focus on ocean-based industries and tangible solutions to the ocean crisis in the track sessions, and hands-on interaction in the ‘how to’ working group sessions.

“The ‘how to’ working groups are new for 2024 and will create a set of action points and practical takeaways for individuals and organisations committed to restore ocean health.”

A ministry spokesman did not respond to requests for more information from The Royal Gazette before press time.