President Joko Widodo Attends 2023 AIS Summit Meeting Showing Joint Commitment to Maritime Governance
BALI – President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) attended the Archipelagic and Island States (AIS) Forum Summit at the Bali Nusa Dua Convention Center (BNDCC).
In the series of AIS Summits, President Jokowi as Chair of the Meeting, or meeting leader, also held several meetings with Heads of State/Heads of Government of AIS Member Countries.
The AIS Forum Summit raised a number of important issues which are the focus of development in island countries. Director General of Information and Public Communication of the Ministry of Communication and Informatics (Kemkominfo) Usman Kansong explained that the AIS Forum Summit in Nusa Dua discussed several important issues, namely blue economic development, the challenge of climate change, and strengthening solidarity between island and archipelagic countries.
“Through this forum we want to build solidarity between island and island countries to overcome threats to the environment. So if an environmental disaster occurs, the island countries will be affected first. “For example, there are several island countries that are predicted to sink if global warming cannot be overcome,” said Usman in a press release.
Previously, Project Coordinator of the AIS Forum Secretariat, Riny Modaso, also explained that the participants discussed the four main focuses in the AIS Forum, namely climate change mitigation and adaptation and disaster management, blue economy development, handling plastic waste at sea, and good maritime governance.
“This meeting was successful in strengthening concrete collaboration between countries in the AIS Forum in facing various global environmental challenges, including climate change, marine resource conservation and regional security,” said Riny Modaso.
Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Madagascar, Yvette Sylla, assessed that the AIS Forum is a dynamic global platform that consistently plays an important role in voicing various crucial issues facing AIS countries.
“In a world that is constantly evolving and beset by multifaceted crises, we face complex and interconnected challenges. “Climate change, conservation of marine resources and regional security require integrated and coordinated action,” said Yvette at the 8th Senior Official Meeting (SOM).
Meanwhile, Jodi Mahardi, Deputy for Coordination of Maritime Sovereignty and Energy, Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Investment of the Republic of Indonesia, also reminded the need for AIS countries to strengthen commitment and solidarity in facing common challenges.
“In order to further strengthen, expand and foster the benefits of our collaborations, projects and actions, it is vital that we strengthen and increase our commitment to the highest levels of leadership of archipelagic and archipelagic countries,” he said.
