"Within 10-15 years, it (blue economy) will make concrete contributions to the world," Deputy for Tourism and Creative Economy at the Maritime Affairs and Investment Coordinating Ministry Odo Manuhutu remarked in Badung District, Bali, on Monday,
Manuhutu made the statement on the sidelines of the AIS Forum High Level Meeting (HLM).
On the occasion, he noted that archipelagic and island states need to develop smart and innovative solutions to support the blue economy.
The 1st HLM of the AIS Forum is expected to result in solid collaboration between archipelagic and island states in the efforts to deal with global challenges, he affirmed.
The challenges include the need to mitigate and adapt to climate change, strengthen the blue economy, handle plastic waste in oceans, and develop good maritime governance.
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Meanwhile, the ministry's assistant deputy for delimitation of maritime zones and border regions, Sora Lokita, noted that the First HLM of the AIS Forum serves as a medium for countries to help each other and gain mutual benefits.
He cited as an example the AIS Forum that has organized training activities for communities in several countries, including Fiji and Madagascar, so they can learn how to make and use keramba, or floating fish cages, and fish aggregating devices.
"It turns out that the keramba-making training in Fiji is the first of its kind in the Pacific. That is an example of the concrete programs of the AIS Forum," he explained.
Lokita affirmed that participating countries in the AIS Forum share similar challenges and geographical conditions, adding that they are expected to make the most of the HLM to exchange information in the hopes of finding solutions to climate change, maritime governance, and pollution.
"We are in a forum that enables us to exchange thoughts, experiences, and knowledge. Therefore, in this context, we should look after each other," he stated.
The main events of the 2023 AIS Forum Summit will take place on October 10-11 at the Bali Nusa Dua Convention Center. Representatives from 29 countries and four international organizations are expected to participate in the meeting.
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Translator: Dewa K, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga
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