CTI-CFF Interim Regional Secretariat New Year Message

As year 2012 comes to an end, I am writing this end year statement as an opportunity to reflect on some of the progress year of 2012, a transitional period for Coral Triangle Initiative on Coral Reefs, Fisheries and Food Security (CTI-CFF). This year has been marked with continuous support and genuine commitment from all of you to move forward the CTI-CFF goals and targets as well as to strengthen capacity to face the challenges toward permanent Regional Secretariat.

This year was also filled with your strong enthusiasts and dedications. On behalf of the Steering Committee and Executive Committee of the Interim CTI CFF Regional Secretariat, I would like to express my special thanks for your contributions and supports throughout the year of 2012.

The Fourth Ministerial Meeting (MM4) of the CTI-CFF which was held in Putrajaya, Malaysia last November provided new and innovative ideas, tools, modalities and recommendations in addressing issues facing the region. Our accomplishments had been acknowledged, endorsed and adopted by Ministers from the CT6 countries.

Our last meeting also proved that through countries’ focal points leadership and coordination and supports from partners’ representatives in maintaining the momentum of the CTI CFF, we have moved forward with remarkable progress toward signatory and ratification of the Agreement on the CTI-CFF Regional Secretariat Establishment. Four countries have signed the Agreement which followed by the others two. For me, it reaffirms our commitment to expedite the process of signatory and ratification. I hope by midyear 2013, we can finalize the implementation of transitional plan toward the establishment of the CTI-CFF Regional Secretariat. Please find attached a copy of signed the Agreement. I look forward to receiving complete signed the Agreement.

To follow up mandate of the Putrajaya Joint Ministerial Declaration in expediting the establishment of appropriate arrangement for the CTI-CFF Regional Secretariat to receive financial contributions for their operation, I am pleased to inform you that the CTI CFF Regional Secretariat now has a bank account. I will send its details later on. In addition, MM4 approval on conducting the feasibility study in 2013 to support the draft CTI-CFF Financial Architecture will be milestone in ensuring funding for the Regional Secretariat’s operations.

As June 9 approved as Coral Triangle Day, I am sure it can raise awareness on the Coral Triangle as a globally-significant eco-region—a modern-day icon of the natural world and light the importance of oceans in people’s lives and the need to protect them. The Coral Triangle Day presents a strong opportunity to bring Coral Triangle issues to mainstream audiences, particularly the youth and people around the region to come together and celebrate, in a physical and tangible way, their shared marine resources and highlight the importance of protecting them to for the future’s food security and livelihood.

I have to acknowledge with gratitude that we have accomplished many aspect of CTI-CFF in this year. We have several direct activities on the fields, establishment of thematic working groups and maintaining regional exchanges on various thematic working groups, as well as related activities in each member countries. I consider all these accomplishments as being cumulative and progressive results.

CTI-CFF Interim Regional Secretariat (CTI CFF IRS) has approved operational plan to extend the mandate until the Regional Secretariat is formally established and operational. We are currently revising the structure of CTI CFF IRS to match the operational and transitional plans. I will update you about the results.

To implement the CTI CFF Roadmap, we will facilitate commitments and efforts of all the CT6 countries to finalize ratification process hopefully by May 2013. We look forward to having host country agreement entry into force by this year, so we can proceed for the next important steps to run the permanent secretariat such as recruitment professionals, implementing regional wise activities in the framework of RPOAs and operating secretariat building. I am sure we will face the challenges to achieve these important steps. I would like to reiterate our statement that all these steps become commitment and common responsibility for both member countries and partners. Your supports on strengthening our efforts and commitments to overcome that challenge will be essential and progressive steps toward effective fully operational entity of permanent Regional Secretariat. I also welcome partners’ supports and their continuous and expanded collaboration to improve the operation of the secretariat roles. We will discuss this issue more detail in mid January 2013 in the CTI CFF Partners Meeting.

Finally, may I thank you, once again, for the cooperation and support you had generously given me and the CTI CFF Interim Regional Secretariat staff in all the program activities we had implemented in 2012. I also should send my heartfelt thanks to institutions and individuals who have participated, assisted and supported the CTI-CFF with their time, funding, energy and dedication in many ways.  I am greeting to you all and wish you a joyful and peaceful holiday season hoping the year 2013 as year of better capacity, closer coordination and higher achievements. I wish each of you a happy New Year.

Dr. Sudirman Saad
Chairman, Interim CTI CFF Regional Secretariat/
Director General of Marine, Coastal and Small Island Affairs
Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, Republic of Indonesia