The event, organised by the Common Maritime Agenda’s National Hub from Bulgaria, gathered over 200 participants, including key speakers from various sectors, university students, representatives from academia, EU networks, national authorities, NGOs, private companies and research organisations.
It was organised in Varna, Bulgaria, as part of the ‘Common Maritime Agenda in my country’ campaign, on occasion of the European Year of Skills 2023. The agenda featured engaging sessions, expert talks, a dedicated exhibition showcasing companies and institutions working in the Black Sea blue economy, as well as a mix of interactive sessions, panel discussions, and networking opportunities.
The opening session featured key speakers from the Bulgarian Ministry of Innovation and Growth and the Ministry of Transport and Communications, Varna Municipality, the Technical University of Varna, the Naval Academy, the Executive Agency Maritime Administration, and the Bulgarian Chamber of Shipping.
The event aimed to foster collaboration across sectors, present blue skills opportunities to students, engage stakeholders in policy dialogues, and provide insights into available and future careers in the blue economy. With a focus on innovation, the event covered challenges such as the role of dual training, coping with digitalisation, green transformation, building and retaining of talent, and brain drain. Moreover, it achieved to identify skill gaps, plan collaborative projects, and emphasise the importance of initiatives promoting blue economy careers among young talent.
For more details and information about the event, download the full report here:
