"The AIS Forum has supported the expansion of more than 500 startups," Senior Advisor on Climate Governance in the UN Agency for the Development Program (UNDP) Indonesia Abdul Wahib Situmorang stated here on Saturday.
Situmorang remarked that support for small business actors includes providing support to the 500 startups through funding and capacity development, such as training, workshops, and bringing together business people with potential partners and others.
Several collaborations were also carried out, including providing support to Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) by facilitating more than 1,500 MSME activists ranging from women, youth, and people with disabilities in developing entrepreneurship.
In addition, scholarships are currently valued at around US$430 thousand.
"Then, we also provide research assistance to researchers and academics, which to date has reached US$204,500 and produced output that we have also used as a model in other AIS countries," he stated.
Meanwhile, Situmorang remarked that in the entrepreneurship sector, the AIS Forum has provided initial capital of US$185 thousand to various startups to develop innovative solutions that can be a model from one participating country to another.
Related news: AIS Forum Summit can contribute to Jakarta's Seribu Islands MSMEs
The forum has also collaborated with dozens of experts, researchers, policy makers, and thousands of partners, so that it can disseminate information and carry out their mission, especially for addressing issues of island and archipelagic countries.
"This AIS Forum Summit can increase cooperation between island and archipelagic countries in the world," he stated.
In the meantime, Head of the Communications Bureau of the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Investment Andreas Dipi Patria noted that the AIS Forum also makes Indonesia's role on the international stage more real and taken into account.
In addition, this forum can provide benefits in the exchange of innovations in island and archipelagic countries.
"This is part of Indonesia's diplomacy through a real and inclusive cooperative approach for all island and archipelagic communities whose lives cannot be separated from the sea," he affirmed.
The 2023 AIS Forum Summit is a forum for cooperation between island and archipelagic countries that aims to strengthen collaboration to overcome four global problems: climate change mitigation and adaptation, blue economy, handling plastic waste at sea, and maritime governance.
The AIS Forum Summit was held to strengthen the role of the AIS Forum as a solution center and forum for mutual cooperation in pushing forward the future agenda in global ocean governance.
The AIS Forum will be held on October 10-11, 2023, at the Bali Nusa Dua Convention Center (BNDCC) Nusa Dua, Badung District, Bali.
Related news: AIS Forum maximizes blue economy cooperation
Related news: Minister seeks joint blue economy action from island countries
Translator: Dewa Ketut Sudiarta Wiguna, Katriana
Editor: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga
Copyright © ANTARA 2023
