"This event is an important joint role for us, blue sector actors, to create opportunities and contribute directly to creating better welfare and livelihoods for coastal communities," he said as quoted from a statement received here Wednesday.
Pandjaitan made the remarks at the opening of the AIS Forum titled "Matchmaking Sustainable Solutions: Bringing Investors and Bluepreneurs Together" held in Jakarta on June 26.
The event is part of the AIS Blue Innovative Solution held to encourage entrepreneurial growth and open opportunities for innovators in the blue economy sector to obtain funding from potential investors in that sector in Indonesia.
"I urge corporate leaders, philanthropists, startups, ministries, and agencies to be actively involved in building strategic cooperation opportunities at the regional and global levels through the AIS Forum," Pandjaitan emphasized.
At the forum, three parties -- Lazada Indonesia, International Development Cooperation Fund Agency (Indonesia AID), and one startup representative, Azura Indonesia -- also expressed their commitment to cooperation for development of the blue economy sector in Indonesia and other AIS countries.
Lazada Indonesia Executive Director Ferry Kusnowo underlined collaborative actions between Lazada Indonesia and the AIS Forum and affirmed that it will continue to run as a form of the company's commitment to environmental safety, especially the marine environment and its surroundings.
Meanwhile, President Director of Indonesia AID Tormarbulang Lumbantobing expressed his openness to project funding opportunities in the blue sector through collaboration of the AIS Forum and Indonesia AID by fully providing support for efforts to advance the blue economy sector in island and archipelagic countries.
Moreover, founder and CEO of Azura Indonesia Nadea Nabila provided testimony on how the collaboration between Azura Indonesia and the AIS Forum helped accelerate concrete actions that have been carried out so far, including by opening opportunities for cooperation in the Pacific region.
One such example is Fiji, where Azura had the opportunity to introduce its innovation, MantaOne, to the local community on Bau Island while simultaneously providing information on operating this environment-friendly and economical electric boat engine.
The AIS Forum also assessed that meeting startups with potential investors, the government sector, private sector, philanthropy, and business ecosystem incubators can open up huge opportunities for collaboration and connection among blue sector entrepreneurs.
The AIS Forum was established, with the aim of creating concrete collaboration and development in island and archipelagic countries spread across the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific oceans.
The forum has been an open platform for addressing global issues since 2018 and will continue to expand concrete actions in island and archipelagic countries.
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Translator: Benardy Ferdiansyah, Cindy Frishanti Octavia
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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