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RI Ready to Host World Ocean Conference, Official Says
Tuesday, 23 December 2008
ANTARA
Jakarta - The secretary to
coordinating minister for people's welfare, Dwisuryo Indroyono Soesilo,
said here Monday that Indonesia was ready to host the World Ocean
Conference (WOC) in Manado, North Sulawesi, on May 11 to 15, 2009.
Indroyono made the statement at a meeting with representatives of
foreign embassies at Borobudur Hotel about the progress report of the
WOC secretariat's preparations.
"The draft Manado Ocean Declaration (MOD) has been distributed to all
stakeholders worldwide. We also have prepared the infrastructure
facilities such as hotels and convention halls to accommodate the WOC
participants" Indroyono said.
The infrastructure developed in Manado, he said, include five new
star-rated hotels, 2 convention halls, airport expansion, road
expansion, new welcome centers, and a 2x20 MW geothermal power plant.
Indroyono added that the government would cover expenses of five days of
board and lodging of about 363 WOC participants from 121 countries. Each
delegation, he said, should consist of a chairman and two members.
"We also provide special Garuda flights from Singapore to Manado and
vice versa There are also extra flights from Manado to Jakarta from May
8 to 18, 2009," Indroyono said adding that delegates should not be
worried about accommodation in Manado anymore because the government is
providing it.
The WOC is an event to raise the profile of oceans as well as to
increase the political commitment of countries around the world to play
an important role for oceans and in climate change.
Furthermore, Indroyono said, Indonesia as host of the WOC would also
launch the new multilateral partnership named Coral Triangle Initiative
(CTI) on Coral Reefs, Fisheries, and Food Security. Established in 2007,
this partnership represents a strong political will among its six
members to preserve and manage marine biodiversity in their territory
against risks which could disturb the ocean's life and , in the end, the
life of man.
The CTI, he said, was considered a model of cooperation with
expectations that it would take WOC spirit forward into action.
The CTI participating countries include the Philippines, Indonesia,
Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and Timor Leste.
World Ocean Conference
Manado, 11-15 May 2009
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