Bali – The 8th Senior Official Meeting (SOM) of the Archipelagic and Island States (AIS) Forum which took place on 29-30 August 2023 in Antananarivo, Madagascar, has appointed Indonesia as the host for the AIS Summit for the first time since the AIS Forum was founded in in 2018.
The AIS Summit is planned to be held on 10-11 October 2023. Project Coordinator of the AIS Forum Secretariat, Riny Modaso, said that the implementation of this summit would later become a strategic platform to strengthen the AIS Forum’s concrete programs in various fields throughout island countries and archipelagic countries.
“AIS Forum continues to be dedicated to facilitating cooperation and innovation between island and archipelagic countries, with the upcoming activity, namely the First Summit in Bali, which will mark a historic moment in its journey as a global forum,” said Riny Modaso.
In line with the Deputy for Maritime Sovereignty and Energy Coordination, Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Investment, Jodi Mahardi, noted the need for AIS countries to strengthen commitment and solidarity in facing common challenges.
“No one can understand the seriousness and complexity of the problems we (AIS countries) face better than the island and archipelagic countries themselves. And, no one will understand the solutions to our problems better than people who in real life are affected by these problems and have solved them themselves,” said Jodi.
Jodi also assessed the importance of the AIS Forum as a forum for island and archipelagic countries to contribute to bringing resolutions to global problems and amplifying the voices and concerns of island countries.
“This forum belongs to all island and archipelagic countries in the world, regardless of size, location and level of economic development,” he said.
Apart from that, Jodi added that the AIS Summit would be a hope to foster a sense of ownership, a desire to strengthen collaboration, and expand the impact of cooperation carried out by Indonesia to many other communities in various countries and regions.
