TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - As many as 22 countries are expected to participate in the 2022 World Ocean Assessment (WOA) hosted in Bangka Belitung Islands on December 12-15, 2022, according to Belitung District Deputy Head Isyak Meirobie.

"Some 22 countries and a total of 100 delegates will participate in the 2022 WOA in Belitung," Meirobie stated on Saturday.

Apart from Indonesia as the host, other countries that confirmed their attendance at the event are Australia, Bangladesh, China, East Timor, Egypt, Fiji, India, Iran, Japan, Nepal, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Korea, SriLanka, Sudan, and the United Arab Emirates, he stated.

"Those countries already have their registration confirmed, yet we are still waiting for confirmations from other countries and delegates," he noted.

The deputy district head said that the 2022 WOA delegates, comprising researchers and oceanographers, would assess and deliberate on solutions to maritime and marine issues in Indonesia.

He said that Belitung is proud to host the international event and is ready to welcome and serve the delegates with local hospitality and emphasis on local culture and wisdom.

"As the 2022 WOA venue, Belitung must be ready to exhibit hospitality, cleanliness, beauty, and natural wonders, which we had exhibited at the past G20 Development Ministerial Meeting," Meirobie stated.

The 2022 WOA delegates would participate in various activities, such as coral planting and hatching release, island hopping, banquets, as well as visiting the Belitung Maritime Museum to observe the maritime artefacts exhibition, the official noted.

The deputy district head stated that the event had provided an opportunity for Belitung to introduce its potential in the maritime and marine sectors to the global community.

"We would introduce Belitung on its specific side -- the sea -- because Belitung sea is still protected from mining activities or other forms of pollution. Hence, delegates could see that Indonesia still has a pristine sea, for which development could be combined with tourism," Meirobie remarked.

ANTARA

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