On 21 May, the ASEAN Blue Carbon and Finance Profiling Project, a cooperation among ASEAN, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and Japan, was launched at a hotel in Jakarta. 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 Masahiko, who also delivered opening remarks. Variety of participants from ASEAN member states and Timor-Leste, partners from public and private sectors, and civil society organisations also attended the event.
 
Blue Carbon ecosystems hold significant potential as carbon sinks, while Blue Finance offers innovative financial solutions to support these ecosystems and foster sustainable economic growth. Through this project-measuringand disseminating the potential of Blue Carbon and Blue Finance in the region-we aim to make a substantial contribution to climate change mitigation and the promotion of sustainable development in the ASEAN region and Timor-Leste.

○　Ambassador’s opening remarks (PDF)