Indonesian Vice President Visits CTI Centre

Indonesia’s Vice President Boediono on May 16 received a preview tour of the facility that will house the CTI-CFF Regional Secretariat.

Located in Grand Kawanua International City (GKIC) in Manado, North Sulawesi, Indonesia, the new 1.5-hectare CTI Centre Complex was built by the Indonesian Government to serve as the regional hub of the CTI-CFF.

The Vice President was accompanied by CTI-CFF Ministers and other dignitaries who attended a series of activities, including the 5th CTI-CFF Ministerial Meeting, held on May 15 in conjunction with the World Coral Reef Conference.

During the tour, Vice President Boediono expressed optimism that the CTI Centre would serve as the coordination center for the CTI-CFF countries, as reported by Antara News (external link).

Indonesia’s Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, Mr. Sharif C. Sutradjo, stated that the building will also serve as a venue for facilitating collaborative activities among CTI-CFF Member States and as a center of excellence for coral reef biodiversity research and scientific activities.

The building has two main components: a dome-shaped five-story structure containing office space for the CTI-CFF Regional Secretariat and a convention hall, and a seven-story structure that will include a library, meeting rooms, and an education, training, and research center. Its main feature will be a giant aquarium and exhibition room designed to showcase the Coral Triangle’s world-renowned marine biodiversity.