The Canary Islands maritime Cluster present with the canarian government in frame of its international promotional Brand Canary Islands Suppliers and their project INTERREG-MAC 2014-2020: SMART BLUE und NAUTICON, the conclusions of the Blue FP Strategy, carried out with numerous companies on the Canary Islands’ need for qualifications and expertise in the Blue Economy sector. The Meeting will take place at 6^th of May at 9.30 am, at the promenade of the district San Cristóbal opposite to the tower of San Pedro in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.

Aim of the initiative is to create an action plan for the Canary Islands, to adapt the professional qualifications to the needs of the company, which provides blue economy services and adapts to market developments, as an instrument for promoting the blue economy in the Canary Islands and the enormous opportunities it offers for economic and social growth. After 11 meetings with companies out of the sector from Gran Canaria, Lanzrote, Fuerteventura and Tenerife a map of the aspects was drawn up to promote, specialisation of vocational training in the fields of Marine-repair, nautical science, desalination, aquaculture and offshore marine energy.

In the program of this meeting several speakers stand out, the first intervention corresponds to Soledad Monzón Consejera of Education and Universities, which presents the strategy in FP Azul. Elba Bueno, manager of the Maritime Cluster of the Canary Islands, and Alicia Gómez, expert in vocational training, who summarised the work done, highlighting the companies involved in the working groups and the results achieved at these meetings. Enrique Haro, representative of AQUANARIA, will also talk about his experience in the company. Enrique representative of AQUANARIA, will also talk about his experience in the company. Finally, the President of the Canary Islands, Fernando Clavijo, closes the event by talking about the potentialities and opportunities of the Blue Economy in the Canary Islands.

Elba Bueno stresses the importance of continuing to work on this Blue FFP strategy in order to increase the potential of the islands in the Blue Economy sector. She also seeks to highlight the need to strengthen the level of language skills in vocational training, as the maritime sector has an international character. In addition, Alicia Gómez supports the promotion of new training programmes to meet the needs of the sector, highlighting professions such as carpentry and turnery among other interesting professions in the sector.