On 14 May, the ASEAN Blue Economy Innovation Project, a collaboration between ASEAN, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), and Japan, was launched at the ASEAN Secretariat. The ceremony was attended by H.E. Satvinder Singh, Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for ASEAN Economic Community, Mr. Norimasa Shimomura, Resident Representative of UNDP Indonesia, and Ambassador Kiya, as well as welcomed by a video message from H.E. Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, Secretary-General of ASEAN. Variety of participants from ASEAN member states, partners from public and private sectors, and civil society organizations also attended the event.
 
Blue Economy is an area that is expected to contribute greatly to the sustainable development of the world. We hope that many innovative ideas will be generated through this project, and that through their realization, they will make a significant contribution to the development of ASEAN and the Indo-Pacific region.
 
In this area, in order to realize the “Osaka Blue Ocean Vision” which was shared at the G20 Osaka Summit, the Government of Japan has launched the “MARINE Initiative” to advance effective actions to combat marine plastic litter at a global scale focusing on (1) Management of wastes, (2) Recovery of marine litter, (3) Innovation, and (4) Empowerment, and will continue promoting efforts in this field.
 

• Ambassador’s remarks (PDF)

Blue Economy Challenge
Joint op-ed