Third Coral Triangle Regional Business Forum: A Marriage of Profit and Sustainability

During the 3rd Coral Triangle Regional Business Forum, business and industry leaders committed to implementing programs that will contribute to building a Blue Economy for the Coral Triangle region. Companies from the seafood, tourism, shipping, manufacturing, and telecommunications sectors were recognized for their environmentally responsible practices.

The Blue Economy concept—focused on efficient resource use, innovative applications of waste as raw material and energy, and promoting self-sufficiency in marine and fisheries activities—was central to the forum. Distinguished speakers, including Prof. Emil Salim (Chair, Indonesian Presidential Advisory Team), Shanti Poesposoetjipto (President Commissioner, PT Samudera Indonesia), Aditya Utama Surono (Director of Sustainability, Anova Asia), Florendo Maranan (Executive Director, Bank of the Philippine Islands Foundation), and Handry Satriago (CEO, General Electric Indonesia) presented examples of business initiatives that grow profits while ensuring the welfare of natural resources and local communities.

Keynote speaker Prof. Dr. Gunter Pauli, initiator and author of The Blue Economy, first introduced the concept in 2004, encouraging efficient resource management through innovations and technologies that generate zero-waste products. One notable commitment recognized at the forum was the public-private partnership between the Solomon Islands Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources and Solomon Islands Telecom, developing a Mobile Inshore Fisheries Data Collection Platform. This will be the first consolidated system for gathering inshore fisheries data, wirelessly linking mobile devices used by fishers and vendors to a central server managed by the Ministry.

The 3rd Coral Triangle Regional Business Forum was hosted by the Indonesian Government and organized by the Indonesian NCC CTI-CFF, CTI-CFF Interim Regional Secretariat, WWF, Coral Triangle Center, and Indonesian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (Kadin), with support from USAID.

The forum also recognized several notable public-private partnerships between companies, NGOs, local communities, and government agencies aimed at improving marine resource use and management. These initiatives include adopting rigorous operating standards, sustainable sourcing policies, and financing grassroots activities that benefit both people and the environment.

Photo Caption: Distinguished speakers at the 3rd RBF (L-R) Prof. Dr. Gunter Pauli, Mr. Florendo Maranan, Ms. Suzy Hutomo, Vice Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy of Indonesia, H.E. Mr. Dr. Sapta Nirwandar, Capt. Rod Short, Ms. Rili Djohani, and Dr. Efransjah.