The Minister for Climate Action, Food and Rural Agenda, David Mascort i Subirana, is at the head of a Catalan delegation participating today and tomorrow in a joint mission with the Portuguese government, to exchange knowledge and projects in the field of the blue economy and maritime policy. Mascort will be accompanied by the Government Delegate to Portugal, Rui Reis, and the Director-General for Maritime Policy and Sustainable Fisheries, Sergi Tudela i Casanovas, and the Director of the Catalan Energy Institute, Marta Morera Marcè.

United by an immense maritime history and outlook

The Catalan Minister for Climate Action began his trip by opening the conference on the blue economy, Atlant & Med. The event addressed issues such as the wind energy strategies of both regions and potential cooperation, shared port projects in Portugal and Catalonia linked to the blue economy, with special reference to the ports of Lisbon and Barcelona, and discussions were held on methods of environmental data collection currently being developed by Portuguese and Catalan scientific bodies, in order to establish scientific cooperation in the marine environment.

In his speech, the Minister for Climate Action stated that “we share immense maritime history and outlook with Portugal, and we also share the same vision on the importance of developing an innovative, cutting-edge, sustainable, inclusive and participatory maritime policy".

Atlant & Med was organised by the Delegation of the Government of Catalonia to Portugal together with the State Secretariat for the Sea. The Delegate Rui Reis underlined "the strong relations fostered between the two governments on blue economy issues thanks to the good relationship from the beginning with the State Secretariat for the Sea".

During the day, the Government of Catalonia delegation visited Portugal’s Maritime Control, which allowed them to share experiences in maritime training, professional profile needs for the blue economy, training infrastructure, and innovation and knowledge transfer to various sectors. In this context, particular attention was paid to the electrification of various economic sectors, in which Catalonia is focusing on training students and future professionals in the decarbonisation of the nautical and fishing industries through electric boats and electric motor workshops, as well as exploring more sustainable materials for boat construction.

Maritime nations with common objectives

This year's meetings will enable Catalonia to consolidate the relationship previously established with Portugal around the blue economy, during which the Government of Catalonia, together with the Maritime RDI Network of Catalonia (BlueNetCat), chose Portugal as the guest country for the 2022 edition of the Maritime Hub held Barcelona.

Portugal is a maritime nation close to Catalonia, with which it shares parallels in the significance of the blue economy sectors and similar economic indicators.