Inp.polri.go.id – Bali. The 2023 Archipelagic and Island States (AIS) Forum Summit will focus on concrete initiative by the people lives in archipelagic and island states. “We don’t want this forum to be the place where we only spout things, but we want to focus on underground initiative and develop it according to the community in the field for the better of us,” calls Deputy for Maritime Sovereignty and Energy Coordination at the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Investment, Jodi Mahardi, during a press conference at Media Center AIS Forum Summit in Nusa Dua Convention Center (BNDCC) 1 Bali on Monday (10/9/2023). Jodi says that in collaboration with United Nations Development PRogramme (UNDP), AIS Forum Secretariat has continuously developed initiative programs that could be implemented by AIS Forum member. “We also have AIS regional director such as Madagascar, Fiji and Barbados. Their task is to communicate with AIS state community in searching for insights and programs that could support AIS,” he adds. He also emphasized that Indonesia fully supports AIS Forum and committed to back its existence and implementations, particularly youth and startup movements in collaborating and jointly search for solutions for the challenges faced. “Our states have the characteristics of resilient and innovative. Indonesia believes that through this forum, AIS states could prove that we have the capabilities in resolving problems without relying on others. This could be realized by working together,” said Jodi. Indonesia have supported AIS Forum program through funds which up until now has donated USD 5 million. Later on, 2023 AIS Forum Summit would hold a Leaders Declaration from every member. “The most important from the Leaders Declaration is that we will unite our voice first, and acknowledge there is pressing matters in AIS Forum which drives us to establish cooperation through blue economy, marine pollution, climate change mitigation, and ocean governance,” he concluded. (ad/ta/pr/nm)