Bluepreneur: Coastal Communities Training
4-6 Dec 2023 Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea

The Indonesian Government, through the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Investment (Kemenkomarves), collaborated with the Secretariat of the AIS Forum, AIDAN Limited, and the National Capital District Commission (NCDC) of Papua New Guinea, supported by PT Pertamina Hulu Energi, to organize the “Bluepreneur: Coastal Communities Training” in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. This program marks the initial step in AIS Forum’s efforts to enhance the capabilities of communities in Papua New Guinea through various activities and empowerment initiatives. The training aimed to provide a wide range of insights and skills to bluepreneurs, enabling them to innovate in the development of their businesses.

Attended by 30 bluepreneurs from various regions of Papua New Guinea, the training was conducted using a community-based approach. Targeting women, youth, and persons with disabilities as participants, AIS Forum provided space for bluepreneurs within these communities to innovate in the blue economy. This initiative is based on the recognition that Papua New Guinea, along with other Pacific nations, possesses abundant potential resources, both natural and human. Over the course of three days, various speakers attended to equip participants with diverse topics. Maria Gigih, among the speakers, provided training on the development of seaweed-based products, including packaging methods that have been developed. Several product examples were successfully developed collaboratively by the participants as outputs of ideas generated during the training. It is hoped that after receiving various materials and examples from blue economy business sectors, bluepreneurs can apply and implement the results of this training within their respective communities.