Vice President Jeremiah Kpan Koung, Sr., will lead a high-level Liberian delegation to the Third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3), taking place from June 9 to 13, 2025, in Nice, France.
The delegation includes key national figures in Liberia’s environmental and maritime sectors Members of the delegation include:
Jeanie Cooper, Special Envoy on Climate Change and Carbon Trade; J. Cyrus Saygbe, Sr., Acting Director General, National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority (NaFAA); Emmanuel Yarkpawolo, Executive Director, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); Cllr Neto Z. Lighe, Commissioner General of the Liberia Maritime Authority, amongst other senior officials and technical experts.
During the conference, Vice President Koung will deliver remarks at a side event hosted by the Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF).
In his statement, he will express Liberia’s gratitude to Member States of the United Nations for electing the country to a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council for the 2026–2027 term.
He will also reaffirm Liberia’s unwavering commitment to the principles of multilateralism, peace, and international cooperation.
As part of the global summit, Vice President Koung will join other world leaders in endorsing the Global Charter for Fisheries Transparency, a landmark international commitment aimed at advancing sustainable fisheries by ensuring greater transparency, accountability, and accessibility of data related to fishing activities.
The Vice President will also highlight Liberia’s notable progress since the 2022 Lisbon Ocean Conference, particularly the nation’s continued support to the Fisheries Transparency Initiative (FiTI) in pursuit of open and accountable fisheries governance.
The Third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3) is a critical platform for advancing global ocean conservation.
The event will mobilize world leaders, scientists, and stakeholders to take bold action in support of Sustainable Development Goal 14: Life Below Water, which calls for the conservation and sustainable use of oceans, seas, and marine resources.
Following his engagements in France, VP Koung is expected to travel to the People’s Republic of China, where he will represent Liberia at the Fourth China-Africa Trade Expo, scheduled to take place on June 12, 2025.