Aruna at IDF 2023: A Discussion of Business for Blue Economy

Batam, Indonesia – Aruna’s persisted  contribution to the growth of the blue economy sector has always been done through partnerships or autonomous community development programs. At the end of 2023, Aruna just attended the Indonesia Development Forum (IDF) 2023, a forum held by the Ministry of National Development Planning/Bappenas for actors in various sectors to exchange ideas about development in Indonesia.

Conducted on Monday, December 18, 2023, the Indonesia Development Forum (IDF) 2023 at Radisson Golf & Convention Center Batam was started with the launching of Indonesia Blue Economy Roadmap Edition 2 by the Minister of National Development Planning/Head of Bappenas, Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, Minister of Industry, and Governor of Riau Islands, followed by Marketplace Session from various stakeholders, then finished with special sessions about topics across disciplines.

Utari Octavianty, the Co-Founder and Chief Sustainability Officer of Aruna, had the opportunity to share about The Efforts to Empower Small Fishers and Coastal Communities through the Implementation of Innovation and Technology in a Special Session: Promoting Inclusion in Indonesia Blue Economy. She said, “One of the technologies that Aruna applies is a tracking device on fishing boats. This tracking device can support traceability, ensure food sources in the fisheries supply chain, and help  the fishers comply with government regulations in order to prevent overfishing.”

Utari continued, “Aruna also empowers fishers and coastal communities through the GAHAR and SARASEHAN programs, providing education on sustainable fishing so that marine ecosystems are maintained for a long time, not to mention improving the communities’ welfare and prosperity as well.”

Quoting from Antaranews, the Deputy for Economic Affairs of the Ministry of National Development Planning/National Development Planning Agency (PPN/Bappenas), Amalia Adininggar Widyasanti, stated that the blue economy was not only about fisheries at all. 

“The blue economy isn’t merely all about fisheries. However, if we look at what has been conveyed by UNCTAD (United Nations Conference on Trade and Development), high value-added sectors are marine-based high-tech manufacturing, shipping industry, port equipment industries, and various potential for the development of marine-based biotechnology,” he said at the Road to Indonesia Development Forum (IDF) 2023, on Biak Island, Papua, Saturday, November 25, 2023.

Aruna expected that the Indonesia Development Forum (IDF) 2023 could create synergy and encourage collaboration between actors in all sectors to jointly develop and actualize the blue economy in Indonesia, especially for the food security sector, one of which is the marine and fisheries industry.