Jakarta, October 12, 2022 —  The Government of Indonesia on Wednesday signed a USD 5 million financing agreement with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to boost cooperation between archipelagic and island nations around the world under the Archipelagic Islands States (AIS) Forum.

The signing also coincides with the launching of a Blue Financing Strategic (BFS) document, developed under the AIS Forum. Launched in 2018, the Forum aims to provide new development solutions and innovative financing mechanisms on climate action and sustainable oceans. The AIS Forum which groups 47 littoral and island countries around the world.    

The Blue Financing Strategic Document provides a framework to unlock the enormoust opportunity in blue financing.  It will seve as as guidelines to develop blue initiatives and  blue financial instruments relevant to the public sector.

Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries Sakti Wahyu Trenggono and UNDP Director of the Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific, Kanni Wignaraja witnessed the signing by Deputy Coordinating Minister for Maritime Sovereignty and Energy, Jodi Mahardi and UNDP Indonesia Resident Representative Norimasa Shimomura.

"The Government of Indonesia will continue to commit to various flagship programs, such as the AIS Forum establishment within the implementation framework that drives our vision to move towards a sustainable ocean future," said Mr. Pandjaitan, whose Ministry spearheaded the AIS Forum's establishment.

Ms. Wignaraja, who is also the Assistant Secretary-General for the United Nations, appreciates Indonesia’s role in rallying resources for global climate action.

“I commend Indonesia for creating a momentum and advocating for the development of island states, both large and small. A regional forum where each concerned state has the opportunity to contribute solutions to common challenges and joint efforts to address them cannot be undervalued,” said Ms. Wignaraja.

“The Blue Financing document has the potential to become one of the main contributors to the development of Indonesia’s blue economy, to bring impactful changes to the communities in need, and establish successful financing models,” she added.

Wednesday’s session also featured  a panel discussion covering various aspects on blue financing initiatives. Speaking on ‘Blue Financing in SDGs Government Securities Framework’ was Deni Ridden, Director of Government Debt Securities in the Ministry of Finance, while Didi Hardiana, Head of Innovative Financing Lab in UNDP Indonesia spoke on the ‘Blue Financing Strategic Document’, and Dr. Ir. Gellwyn Jusuf, Ministry of National Development Planning provided insights on the ‘Blue Finance Instruments Guidelines’. 

MEDIA CONTACTS

Coordinating Ministry for Maritime and Investment AffairsKhairul Hidayati hida@maritim.go.id

UNDP Indonesia, Senior Advisor for Climate and Environmental Governance , Abdul Situmorang abdul.situmorang@undp.org

UNDP Indonesia Communication Specialist, Tomi Soetjipto, suryo.tomi@undp.org

UNDP AIS Forum Communications Officer, Adream Bais Junior, adream.junior@undp.org