Bali, 19 January 2024 – As part of its commitment to accelerate sustainable innovation in the blue economy sector, the Archipelagic and Island States (AIS) Forum participated in the Bali Ocean Days in Jimbaran, Bali, 19-20 January 2024. Alongside the Coordinating Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Investment (CMMAI) of Indonesia, the AIS Forum Secretariat is jointly involved in the series of events held by the Sky Blue Sea Foundation, a non-governmental organisation focused on preserving marine ecosystems and promoting sustainable blue economy.
Held at the InterContinental Resort Jimbaran, this event consisted of two major sessions: the Blue Conference and the Eco Showcase. At the Blue Conference, experts from governmental institutions, academics, NGOs, international organisations, and the private sector gathered to present their strategic insights regarding marine issues and ocean conservation. Then, the Eco Showcase was organised to provide a space for the key players in promoting and implementing sustainable practices to showcase their initiatives.
The Blue Conference was dispersed into seven (7) big sessions, with three (3) sessions convened on the first day and four (4) sessions on the second day. The first panel session starting the Blue Conference was titled Blue Economy Governance & Development. Jodi Mahardi, Deputy for Maritime Sovereignty and Energy Conservation at CMMAI, began the session by presenting the actions that the Indonesian government has taken in the effort to accelerate the implementation of the blue economy.
One that was highlighted by Deputy Mahardi was Indonesia’s involvement in the formulation of the Blue Financing Strategic Document in collaboration with the AIS Forum in 2022. This document became a reference for Indonesia when it launched the first sovereign blue bond in 2023.
“Through the AIS Forum, Indonesia actively supports and cooperates with various forums and international and regional organisations to ensure our collaborative efforts to improve the blue economy globally,” said the Deputy in his presentation. He also added that Indonesia’s success in launching the blue bond could be a blueprint for others, especially for AIS countries, to harness the potential of sustainable financing.
In the second session, Professor Luky Andrianto from IPB University presented the progress of the Blue Economy Development Index (BEDI), which was jointly developed with the AIS Forum. For the past few years, AIS Forum has been working intensively to develop the BEDI in collaboration with academics and experts on sustainable blue economy development, one of whom is Professor Adrianto himself.
“BEDI has become a matrix that can be used to measure the development of the blue economy in a country. Especially in the AIS countries, BEDI can be used as a good metric to measure sustainable blue economy regeneration, considering that the archipelagic and island states have huge potential in this blue sector,” said Adrianto. To this date, BEDI has reached its final phase of the simplification metric process to make it easier to use globally, especially for the archipelagic and island states.
As a global forum focusing on advocating issues and challenges faced by islanders, BEDI development by the AIS Forum is expected to be one of the most effective mediums for AIS countries to analyse performance of the blue economy. With the right matrix, AIS countries could optimise the implementation of ocean-based economies as a tool to develop economies, preserve the environment, and improve the long-term livelihoods of the unique ecosystem.
The second day of the Bali Ocean Days continued with the presentation of practical and innovative solutions to combat maritime challenges, such as marine plastic debris, sustainable fisheries, protection of marine biodiversity, and the capacity of coastal communities. In the future, it is hoped that Bali Ocean Days will become a medium for stakeholders to formulate a strategic action plan for the future of the global marine environment.
