Bali Ocean Days Conference and Showcase
Inaugural Bali Ocean Days Conference and Showcase, held on January 19-20 at the InterContinental Bali Resort, saw the Jimbaran Convention Center’s Imperial Ballroom bustling at full capacity with hundreds of enthusiastic participants for two consecutive days.
Bali, Indonesia – Inaugural Bali Ocean Days Conference and Showcase, held on January 19-20 at the InterContinental Bali Resort, saw the Jimbaran Convention Center’s Imperial Ballroom bustling at full capacity with hundreds of enthusiastic participants for two consecutive days.
The international event themed ‘Exploring Marine Conservation in Indonesia and Beyond’ was organized by Sky Blue Sea Foundation and Darmawan & Associates, in partnership with the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime and Investment Affairs and the Archipelagic and Island States (AIS) Forum.
In front of an audience comprising of expert conservationists and ocean lovers from Indonesia and various international countries, such as Australia, New Zealand, the United States, Germany and France, Mr. Paul Tanjung Tan, founder of Sky Blue Sea Foundation, delivered a vibrant opening speech – expressing gratitude to the following institutions for their presence and support – Bali Provincial Government represented by the Head of Maritime and Fisheries Department, Bpk. Putu Sumardiana, His Excellency Mr. Nico Barito, Special Envoy of the Republic of Seychelles for ASEAN,
Deputy Coordinating Minister for Maritime Sovereignty and Energy, Bpk. Jodi Mahardi,
Director of Fleet Pertamina International Shipping, Bpk. Muhammad Irfan Zainul Fikri, and other high ranking representatives of Bappenas, the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, the United Nations Development Program and the World Bank.
‘Sky Blue Sea Foundation endeavors to take small steps towards fostering understanding and spreading knowledge of all the good work done by so many individuals, corporations and institutions alike. I urge you to please continue to protect our diversity, our ecology, the environment, and most importantly, enhance our ability to renew and regenerate whatever we take from this planet – to sustain the harmonious development of humanity and all natural ecosystems, for generations to come’ he said.
Day one, the marine conference highlighted major institutional issues, with a main topic – Indonesian Blue Economy Governance & Development, developed in two consecutive panels composed of eminent government officials and multilateral organizations representatives. A third session was dedicated to Ecotourism & Preservation of Coral Reefs and Marine Biodiversity, and included contributions from the Coral Triangle Center, WWF Indonesia, Misool Foundation and others.
During breaks between panel sessions, exhibitors showcasing their booths at the back of the Imperial Ballroom, including Bali Ocean Days’ main sponsors Pertamina and Taman Safari Indonesia, had the opportunity to come on stage and present their projects and initiatives. Eco Tourism Bali, represented by its founder, Ms. Suzy Hutomo, various academics – University of Melbourne and Udayana, Bandung Institute of Technology, renewable energy stakeholders – Akuo Energy, Ingine Wave Energy Systems, and many others also received valuable exposure during the event.
The second day of the conference opened with an online contribution by the venerable Prof. Emil Salim, a pioneer of sustainable development in Indonesia and the first State Minister of Environment, and continued with discussions on other vital conservation topics – Waste Treatment & Reduction of Ocean Plastic Pollution, Sustainable Fishing & Protection of Endangered Species, Mangrove & Seagrass Blue Carbon Ecosystems Management, and Coastal Communities Empowerment & Education to Marine Conservation.
Panels featured world class speakers, namely Dr. Mark Erdmann, from Conservation International, Dr. Benjamin Michael Brown representing the Australian Institute of Marine Science and Bpk. Mas Achmad Santosa, founder of the Indonesian Ocean Justice Initiative.
Conference was brilliantly moderated by Ms. Kania Sutisnawinata, who succeeded Ms. Marializia Hasni, another renowned news anchor from Metro TV.
Bali Ocean Days inaugural event has culminated with the first Sky Blue Sea Award, a ceremony that featured presentation of a masterpiece trophy to the host venue in recognition of its environmental sustainability credentials – InterContinental Bali Resort, represented by its Resort Manager, Mr. Christoph Pouls.
Greenhope, advocated by its co-founder and CEO, Mr. Tommy Tjiptadjadja, and Plastic Bank Indonesia, represented by its Community & Strategic Partnership Manager, Mr. Andri Zainudin, were the recipients of Blue Dot Certificates, a newly created label certifying products and processes at the highest level of sustainability, according to the criteria established by Sky Blue Sea Foundation.
Closing the two-day gathering, Ms. Yoke Darmawan, head of the Bali Ocean Days Committee, has announced that considering the enthusiastic overall response to the inaugural event, the committee, in partnership with the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime and Investment Affairs, had decided to schedule a second iteration of the conference and showcase, next year in January, in the same magnificent Jimbaran Convention Center at InterContinental Bali Resort. A 2025 edition where business matching would be emphasized between blue tech startups, banking institutions and venture capital firms.
In the meantime, Mrs. Yoke Darmawan has also announced that Bali Ocean Days, in collaboration with the Coral Triangle Center, was about to initiate an exclusive series of video podcasts and workshops to explore further a selection of marine conservation issues and showcase leading individuals and organizations.
The United Nations World Oceans Day on June 08 should also give founders an opportunity to create another original gathering – Bali Ocean Days Artworks and Shows, where impact artists and performers who care, would remind everyone about the importance of saving our oceans, in a way that connects all communities from the heart and engage emotions and feelings.
‘Today, a Bali Ocean Days community is born, dedicated to marine conservation in Indonesia and beyond, with the objectives of tackling immediate challenges and inspiring long-term solutions. Let us unite in diversity and build a strong public-private association – a force for action and influence on political and industrial decision makers – in order to convert pledges and commitments into concrete actions’ – Yoke Darmawan said.
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