Nautical charts do not draw themselves. Behind each coast line, each measured depth, lies the meticulous work of hydrographers, oceanographers and cartographers, whose expertise determines the safety of navigation and the development of the blue economy. It is this expertise that the Ivorian economic capital put in the spotlight by opening, at the Azalaï hotel in Abidjan Marcory, this regional capacity building seminar. port for the development of hydrography and the strengthening of maritime and port skills. For two days, the meeting brought together specialists from West Africa, Central Africa, North Africa as well as Europe, particularly France and Spain, alongside international technical partners. The discussions were structured around the theme “Training in hydrography, oceanography and marine cartography in West and Central Africa: successes and prospects”, an area which is part of a regional training project supported by the capacity building program of the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO).

This seminar constituted the first stage of a dense week for maritime diplomacy Ivory Coast, which then hosted the 19th CHAtO Conference from July 1 to 3, 2026, under the presidency of the Kingdom of Morocco and the patronage of the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense, Téné Birahima OUATTARA. Thanks to the training of its experts, Côte d'Ivoire is consolidating its position as a regional hub of the blue economy in West and Central Africa.