At the opening of the World Ocean Summit 2019 in Abu Dhabi, Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg welcomed participants via video message. PM Solberg and President of the Republic of Palau Tommy Remengesau, Jr. are co-chairs the High Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy. Solberg said:

“The World Ocean Summit provides the place where finance can meet good public policy and high-quality science and innovation. This is exactly the place where solutions for the sustainable ocean economy can emerge.”