AIS Youth Delegation Presents Innovations in Front of AIS Forum Summit Leaders
President Jokowi attends the AIS Forum Summit, at the Bali Nusa Dua Convention Center (BNDCC), Badung Regency, Bali Province, Wednesday (10/11). (Photo: Presidential Secretariat’s Information, Media, and Press Bureau/Rusman)
On the sidelines of the working luncheon session of the High Level Conference of the Archipelagic and Island States (AIS) Forum held at the Bali Nusa Dua Convention Center (BNDCC), Badung Regency, Bali Province, Wednesday (10/11), leaders of island and archipelagic countries paid attention to the presentations of a number of young innovators. These young people expressed their voices and concerns about various main issues at the AIS Forum Summit, as well as their innovations to overcome the issues.
In his introductory remarks, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo said that the young innovators’ presentations were in line with the discussions held by the state leaders at the AIS Forum Summit regarding the importance of inclusive approach and innovation.
“As we mentioned earlier in the meeting, inclusive approach and innovation are very important. Therefore, I invited two representative groups, one representing young people and the other representing innovators,” said the President.
Yuv Sungkur, representative of the AIS Youth Delegation from Mauritius, said that the young delegates had gathered on 6-7 October 2023 and agreed on the first AIS Youth Declaration. The declaration is an important document that will become a historic achievement for the island nations, containing statements from 26 delegations representing the Caribbean, Pacific and Indian Ocean.
In the declaration, Yuv Sungkur said, four main strategic themes were discussed and agreed upon, namely supporting marine-based climate action, encouraging a sustainable blue economy, eradicating marine pollution, and integrating inclusive and intergenerational marine governance.
“This declaration is a historic reminder that we, the young people of island nations, will continue to speak out for the achievement of a better future for the oceans, which will always be driven by our local actions. Alongside our declaration is a series of individual action plans through which delegates will take their own commitments and turn them into concrete actions,” he said.
On this occasion, two Indonesian youths, namely Nadea Nabilla and Fajar Sidik Abdullah Kelana, took an active part and explained their innovations. Nadea Nabilla explained that two million small-scale fishermen produce more than eight million tons of carbon dioxide per year. This is caused by their use of gasoline which takes up 70 percent of their income.
For this reason, she created an innovation in the form of an electric fishing boat engine, Manta One, which she said could reduce carbon by up to 78 percent. “Switching from combustion engines to the Manta One will have a direct impact on carbon reduction of 78 percent and cost efficiency per trip of 70 percent. This is a source of pride and happiness for Indonesia,” said Nadea.
Meanwhile, Fajar Sidik Abdullah Kelana explained the impact of climate change on the aquaculture sector. According to him, climate change has caused a decrease in water quality and caused crop failures which have an impact on 2.2 million fish farmers in Indonesia and other parts of the world.
Responding to the issue, Fajar created an innovation in the form of an integrated sustainable microbubble aerator to improve water quality in the aquaculture sector. According to him, this innovation has proven capable of increasing aquaculture production and fish farmer income by 30 percent.
“Not only that, our innovation also reduces ammonia in water by 17 percent and reduces electricity consumption by 40 percent compared to current aerator technology,” explained Fajar. (Presidential Secretariat’s Information, Media, and Press Bureau/AIT) (TM/LW)
