President Joko Widodo: Ocean is Our Future

PRESS RELEASE

COMMUNICATIONS AND MEDIA TEAM OF THE 2023 HLM OF THE AIS FORUM

No.63/SP/TKM-AISFORUM2023/10/2023

Badung, 10 October 2023 – The President of the Republic of Indonesia Joko Widodo hosted a gala dinner for state leaders and delegates participating in the 2023 High-Level Meeting (HLM) of the Archipelagic and Island States (AIS) Forum in Nusa Dua, Bali, on Tuesday, 10 October.

The President extended his welcome to the delegates present in Bali. "Welcome to Bali. Welcome to Indonesia for the gala dinner of the 1^st High-Level Meeting of the AIS Forum," said President Joko Widodo.

According to the President, the HLM of AIS Forum is aimed to strengthen collaboration among archipelagic and island countries that share a commonality: living side by side with the ocean.

"Because ocean is our life. Ocean unites our people, and ocean provides many resources that we have to manage in a responsible manner. Let us flourish our friendship, and please enjoy this evening. Thank you," added the President.

The dishes served were variations of traditional Indonesian cuisine, reinterpreted by Chef Vindex Tengker and Chef Made Putra. The diversity of natural resources, especially Indonesia’s marine products, was presented on the dining table to align with the 2023 HLM of the AIS Forum 2023 theme, "Fostering Collaboration, Enabling Innovation for Our Ocean and Our Future."

The first dish was urapan or bacem (seasoned boiled vegetables) tempeh from Yogyakarta. It was followed by Andaliman prawn salad. Andaliman is a spice native to the North Sumatra region. These two menus were served as appetizers along with Nusa Dua Lemongrass Tomato Soup. The latter is a unique blend of tomato soup and lemongrass aroma, garnished with avocado slices and served with coconut cream.

There were three main dishes. The first was Base Genep (Balinese spice paste) Beef, prepared from Wagyu with Balinese spices, accompanied by Bali’s signature lawar (Balinese salad) as a side dish.

The second menu was Gulai Udang Karang (lobster curry), a lobster dish with asparagus and mushrooms featuring Acehnese curry. The presentation alone was appetizing. The third menu was Polenta Terung Mapui (corn porridge and grilled eggplant). Polenta is a dish made from corn flour, accompanied by grilled eggplant in a special Kalimantan red sauce.

The chefs prepared a specialty from North Sulawesi, Young Coconut Pudding, for dessert. Additionally, there was Bunaken Coral, a pandan and coconut cake adorned with various fruits.

Taste Enhancer

A gala dinner is incomplete without entertainment. Aside from their tasting buds, guests were also visually pampered with dance and musical performances, showcasing Indonesia’s cultural diversity.

Famous singers and dancers performed in four themes for entertainment at the gala dinner.

The first theme was “Collaboration and Innovation through Challenges.” This theme depicted the strength of archipelagic and island countries as they strive to survive through all challenges. This strength is the result of collaboration adapted through innovation. Yuni Shara opened the sequel with the song “Serasa.”

The second theme was “Archipelagic Countries’ Richness in Culture, Unity in Diversity.” This performance celebrated the natural and cultural richness of archipelagic nations. A series of five songs from Papua, Sulawesi, Java, Kalimantan, and Sumatra were performed by Indonesian singers.

“Love Our Ocean” was the third theme featured in the entertainment accompanying the dinner. The performance was an expression of gratitude for the richness of the ocean and a form of strong commitment to preserving marine resources for future generations. The performers presented songs guaranteed to remind the guests of the tropical sea ambiance.

“Prosperous Future” was the closing theme of the entertainment program. This theme represented the hopes and aspirations of archipelagic and island countries to collaborate and achieve shared prosperity goals. Energetic songs that invited the guests to dance were played in this finale.

A perfect dinner with captivating entertainment undoubtedly had the purpose of showcasing Indonesia’s beauty. It also encouraged guests to extend their stay and promote Indonesia's beauty worldwide.

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About AIS Forum:

The Archipelagic and Island States (AIS) Forum is a global platform for cooperation among island and archipelagic states that aims at strengthening collaboration to address global issues with four main areas of focus: climate change mitigation and adaptation, the blue economy, marine plastic waste management, and good maritime governance. The 2023 High-Level Meeting of the AIS Forum is organized to reinforce the role of the AIS Forum as a center for smart & innovative solutions and a platform for collaboration in promoting the future agenda of global maritime governance.

For more information, please contact:

Director General of Public Information and Communications of the Ministry of Communications and Informatics – Usman Kansong (0816785320).

Get more information on press releases, narratives, photos, and videos related to the 2023 HLM of the AIS Forum at https://s.id/aispedia.

President Joko Widodo (right) takes a picture with Timor-Leste Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao (left) before the Gala Dinner of the 2023 HLM of the AIS Forum at Bali International Convention Center (BICC), Nusa Dua, Badung, Bali, Tuesday, 10 October 2023. The event served to introduce the cultural heritage of Indonesia and a warm welcome for the delegates of the 2023 HLM of the AIS Forum. Media Center 2023 AIS Forum Summit/Jessica Wuysang/nym.

Singer Yuni Shara performs at the Gala Dinner of the 2023 HLM of the AIS Forum 2023 at Bali International Convention Centre (BICC), Nusa Dua, Badung, Bali, Tuesday, 10 October 2023. The event featured various Indonesian artistic performances to introduce the cultural heritage of Indonesia and welcome the delegates of the 2023 HLM of the AIS Forum. Media Center KTT AIS Forum 2023/Aditya Pradana Putra/nym.