Brussels, 5 October 2017/ ACP: Nigerian authorities conveyed their full support and solidarity with the ACP Group of States in preparations for negotiations for an ACP-EU post-2020 partnership agreement, during an outreach mission to one of the ACP’s largest member states in West Africa.

In particular, the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria H.E. Yemi Osinbajo urged fellow ACP member states to remain united in their cause, and indicated his support for the establishment of an ACP Endowment Fund, which would assist in the development agendas of ACP countries.

Brussels, 5 October 2017/ ACP: Developing countries, including those in the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group, should play a part in ongoing efforts to modernise development finance, including discussions on how to measure various financial flows into a country, for sustainable development.

This was a key message that emerged from a joint event held in Brussels on 26 September, co-organised by the ACP Group and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) to facilitate important policy dialogue and sharing of strategic priorities in financing development.

Nassau, The Bahamas, 25 September 2017/ACP: Ministers in charge of Fisheries and Aquaculture in African, Caribbean and Pacific countries concluded two days of comprehensive talks on 20-21 September with a renewed commitment to developing the fisheries and aquaculture sectors in their countries, as well as unlocking the potential of the ‘blue economy’ through a new €40 million “ACP Blue Growth Initiative”.

New York, 22 September 2017/ ACP: The African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Group of States lent its support to a major UN-EU initiative to eliminate violence against women and girls (VAWG), launched on Wednesday, 20 September in the margins of the 72^nd session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

Honourable Ministers; Directors of Fisheries; Chief Fisheries Officers; Ladies and gentlemen

I am delighted to offer welcoming remarks at the opening of the Fifth ACP Ministers in charge of Fisheries and Aquaculture meeting. On behalf of the Government and the people of The Bahamas, we are pleased to welcome you to our shores.

Let me begin by offering the solidarity and concern of The Bahamas with our Caribbean neighbours who have been affected by Hurricane Irma and Maria.

I know all of you join The Bahamas in the expression of our solidarity.

To offer you some geographical perspective, the Bahamas archipelago extends south-west from Southern Florida in the United States to northern Cuba.

Nassau, The Bahamas, 19 September 2017/ ACP: Senior government officials from 55 fish-exporting countries in the ACP Group wrapped up two full days of deliberations today, devoted to assessing the ACP Strategic Plan of Action for fisheries and aquaculture, and discussing joint approaches to boost these sectors in a sustainable manner.

Brussels, 15 September/ ACP: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development requires formidable financial means to win the fight against poverty and inequality in the world. With 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and 169 targets to reach, African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries are faced with the critical challenge of how to raise enough resources to realise these ambitions.

Op-ed by Mr. Viwanou Gnassounou, ACP Assisant Secretary General for Sustainable Economic Development and Trade

Brussels, 12 September 2017/ ACP: Fish is big business. The latest figures show that more than 165 million tonnes of fish are either captured or harvested in a year, with each person consuming more than 20kg of fish annually, according to the world average.