Movenpick Hotel and Convention Centre KLIA
13 - 14 December 2023
The Ministry of Economy Malaysia and Maritime Institute of Malaysia (MIMA) jointly organised a two-day workshop aimed at advancing the development of a comprehensive national blue economy blueprint for Malaysia. The primary focus of this workshop was to thoroughly examine critical components and essential characteristics that must be taken into account and executed to craft a robust national blue economy plan.
This event garnered significant attention and participation, with more than 50 attendees hailing from various sectors, including representatives from relevant government ministries, agencies, academia, research institutes, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and key stakeholders, including those from Sabah and Sarawak.
Taking place on December 13, 2023, the workshop commenced with a Welcoming Address from YBhg. Dato’ Mohamed Suffian Awang, Chairman of MIMA, followed by an Opening Speech delivered by YBrs. Mr. Che Kodir Baharum, Director of the Environmental and Natural Resources Division of the Ministry of Economy.
The participants were organised into groups, each consisting of randomly selected participants representing different agencies and stakeholders. Each group comprised approximately 8-10 participants. Each of these group was tasked to complete specific assessments and provide inputs over the course of the workshop.
Following these introductions, the Fellow/Centre Head of the Centre for Straits of Malacca (SOM), Ms. Cheryl Rita Kaur provided an extensive overview of the blue economy, elucidating its key concepts, challenges, needs, and ongoing initiatives. This served as a foundational understanding for participants before they embarked on the group exercises.
On December 14, 2023, the second day of the workshop featured two speakers. Ms. Maria Corazon Ebarvia, Regional Coordinator of Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia (PEMSEA), discussed the challenges and opportunities of the blue economy for sustainable, resilient, and inclusive development. She also provided a regional perspective on the blue economy, drawing examples from neighbouring ASEAN countries, including the Philippines, which served as a benchmark for Malaysia. Ms. Ebarvia highlighted the progress made in the region and what Malaysia could learn and adopt from its experiences.
Ms. Teng Yu He, Senior Analyst at the Academy Sciences of Malaysia (ASM), presented a position paper on the blue economy, emphasising the unlocking of the ocean’s value. She revealed that ASM had conducted an in-depth analysis (8i analysis) to identify gaps in Malaysia’s blue economy initiatives. Moreover, ASM offered recommendations to bridge these gaps effectively. After the informative presentations, each group resumed their discussions, focusing on key sectors of the blue economy, potential enablers and investment opportunities, the identification of stakeholders, and the creation of a timeline for implementation, among others.
This workshop provided a structured and engaging platform for participants to delve into the complexities of the blue economy, particularly at the national level. By identifying key focus areas, relevant stakeholders, and addressing existing gaps and challenges, participants gained valuable insights into contributing to the sustainable development of Malaysia’s national blue economy. The importance of benchmarking with regional and national perspectives was emphasised throughout the discussions.
For the concluding phase and the subsequent steps ahead, YBrs. Puan Salina Mohamad Sali Luddin, Deputy Director of the Environmental and Natural Resources Division at the Ministry of Economy, delivered her closing remarks. In her address, she expressed her heartfelt gratitude toMIMA and all participants for their invaluable contributions.
MIMA is proud to have collaborated with the Ministry of Economy Malaysia in organising this workshop. Ongoing efforts will be directed towards realising a comprehensive national blue economy blueprint for Malaysia, aligning with the national aspirations outlined in the 12th Malaysia Plan. Together, these initiatives aim to drive sustainable economic growth and development through the responsible and strategic use of Malaysia’s marine resources.
