By: Putu Raditya )*
The 2023 AIS Forum Summit which will take place on 10-11 October in Bali is a meeting that is highly anticipated. The reason is, this event is the first and is a form of Indonesia’s contribution to handling maritime issues on a global scale.
By inviting representatives from a number of archipelagic and island countries as well as a number of international organizations, this event is an important platform for archipelagic and island countries to collaborate with each other in overcoming maritime-related problems.
The theme “Fostering Collaboration, Enabling Innovation for Our Ocean and Our Future” reflects the urgency of international collaboration in building a sustainable blue economy, facing climate change, and strengthening solidarity among island countries.
This event is not just a place for discussion, but it is hoped that it will produce concrete solutions that can help island countries face the real challenges faced in their waters.
Indonesia has had the honor to host the 2023 AIS Forum Summit, and this marks Indonesia’s important role in addressing global maritime issues.
Sora Lokita, Assistant Deputy for Delimitation of Maritime Zones and Border Areas at the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Investment (Kemenko Marinves), explained that Indonesia was the initiator of this forum.
In a press conference held by the West Merdeka Forum (FMB) in Jakarta, Sora Lokita explained that the AIS Summit was a real form of Indonesia’s contribution to the world because the idea came from Indonesia. Therefore, the AIS Summit can be a positive contribution for Indonesia to the global level, especially in the context of maritime issues.
Indonesia’s involvement in the AIS Forum Summit did not just come by chance. This is the result of Indonesia’s active participation in the diplomatic arena related to global maritime issues through various international meetings.
One important moment was the preparation of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) in 1982 which confirmed the principle of an archipelagic state. This shows Indonesia’s commitment to supporting principles relevant to maritime issues.
It is hoped that the 2023 AIS Forum Summit will not only be a place for discussion, but will also have a concrete impact in responding to the challenges faced by island countries. It is also hoped that this meeting can become a sustainable forum, parallel to other regional organizations that have previously been established.
With the involvement of nine heads of international organizations, including ASEAN, the UN and the World Bank, the hope is that there will be closer cooperation between archipelago and island countries in dealing with global issues.
In order to support the transparency and accessibility of this event, the Ministry of Communication and Information (Kominfo) opened registration for media covering the 2023 AIS Forum Summit.
All journalists who register will take part in the verification stage, and if they are successfully accredited, they will receive an official invitation letter from the Ministry of Communication and Information (Kominfo) as a requirement to take a media ID badge, as stated by the Ministry’s Director General of Public Information and Communication (IKP). Kominfo, Usman Kansong.
Then, registered journalists will be included in the AIS Forum 2023 Summit Media Center WhatsApp group, which will be the main source of information including event-related content, press releases and the latest news.
The process for collecting the coverage ID badge will take place on 6-9 October 2023 at the Santika Siligita Hotel, Nusa Dua, Bali. All necessary requirements, such as verification by the Press Council and reporting assignment letters, must be fulfilled by journalists and local media who register.
The Ministry of Communication and Information has also prepared a Media Center at the 2023 AIS Forum Summit. This Media Center will be located near the event venue, namely at Tanjung Benoa Hall, Bali Nusa Dua Convention Center (BNDCC) third floor.
The Media Center will operate for three days, namely on 9-11 October 2023, although it is expected to become fully operational on 7 October 2023. The
AIS Summit Media Center will also be able to serve around 500 journalists, with anticipated possible participation of up to 700 people. This includes distribution of press releases in two languages, English and Indonesian, as well as providing photos and videos that are clean fit or free of logos from the host broadcaster.
Apart from that, there is also a medical room, media kit and press conference venue. PT Telkom, PDSI Kominfo, and the National Cyber and Crypto Agency (BSSN) will provide support in terms of website and network security.
Let’s look forward to the results of the 2023 AIS Forum Summit. With broad participation and relevant themes, we hope that there will be concrete steps in facing global marine challenges.
This initiative is part of joint efforts by island countries to maintain the sustainability of marine resources and build a better future. Let us support this effort for sustainability and justice in the ocean, which is the shared heritage of all humanity.
)* The author is a contributor to the Pertiwi Institute
