Sustainable marine economy is a common goal that unites island nations which depend on the sea as a source of food and life.

Jakarta (Indonesia Window) – Indonesia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi has invited archipelagic countries to strengthen partnerships in an effort to develop sustainable marine economy and contribute to overcoming various global challenges.

Minister Reno made the invitation at the opening of the 4th Ministerial Meeting on Archipelagic and Island States Forum/AIS Forum, in Bali, Dec. 6, 2022, according to the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in its official statement received on Wednesday.

“We must maintain hope and optimism in the midst of various complex global challenges," Retno said, adding that the G20 Summit meeting in Bali last month showed that world leaders could maintain a spirit of collaboration and put differences aside.

The foreign minister emphasized two things in the context of the AIS Forum cooperation, namely first, the importance of the spirit of collaboration in overcoming global challenges.

"The AIS Forum must become a platform for collaboration in overcoming global challenges, including through synergy with other initiatives," she added.

Second, the importance of strengthening unity to achieve common goals.

“A sustainable marine economy is a common goal that unites us. We all depend on the sea as a source of food and life, but at the same time the sea also brings up big challenges," the minister noted.

Among these challenges are rising sea levels, marine debris, and over-exploitation of marine resources. "If it is not overcome, island countries would face the biggest impact," she said.

The AIS Forum was established in 2018 at the initiative of Indonesia as a forum for development cooperation between archipelagic countries and small island states.

The AIS Forum has 47 member countries and focuses on concrete cooperation on dealing with climate change, blue economy, marine debris and good maritime governance.

The 4th AIS Forum Ministerial Meeting was attended by 22 countries and two international organizations.

The meeting was opened by Indonesia’s Coordinating Minister for Maritime and Investment Affairs Luhut Binsar Panjaitan and Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi.

It was chaired by Indonesia’s Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Sakti Wahyu Trenggono.

The participants agreed on increasing cooperation and partnerships for a number of strategic programs in the field of economic recovery, achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) especially related to marine affairs, innovative financing, blue economy, and advancing research for sustainable management of marine resources.

Reporting by Indonesia Window