The first OASIS Forum kicked off in the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur, under the theme “Entrepreneurship and Youth Participation in the Blue Economy,” with wide participation from Yemen, the Gulf states, and countries bordering the Red Sea. The forum, funded by the European Union in partnership with Deep Root, serves as a platform bringing together entrepreneurs, experts, researchers, and young leaders to discuss the future of the blue economy in the region.
The forum aims to highlight the enormous potential of the blue economy, discuss the challenges hindering its realization, and build the leadership capacity of youth to innovate sustainable solutions in the fields of marine ecotourism, aquaculture, clean energy, and marine technology.
The opening ceremony was attended by the Yemeni Ambassador to Malaysia, Dr. Adel Bahumid, who delivered an inspiring speech in which he expressed his pride in participating in the forum’s launch. He praised the diverse knowledge and skills of the participants and emphasized the importance of involving youth in shaping a sustainable economic future. He explained that the blue economy has become a strategic necessity, calling for in-depth research and studies to explore its potential in Yemen and Arab countries. In Yemen’s participation, Engineer Bajneid, Environment and Climate Officer at the National Network for Advocating for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, highlighted the importance of integrating environmental sustainability and the protection of persons with disabilities into blue economy programs. Engineer Bajneid emphasized that the forum represents an opportunity to promote social innovation and community engagement, ensuring that future projects address environmental, social, and economic needs simultaneously. He added:
> “Integrating environmental issues and the rights of persons with disabilities into economic strategies is not an optional extra, but rather a necessity to transform the blue economy into a sustainable and inclusive platform for all groups, especially vulnerable and disadvantaged groups.”
Malaysian researcher Muhammad Nazmi from the Malacca Marine Science Center also presented Malaysia’s experience in the blue economy, emphasizing the pivotal role of maritime geography across the Strait of Malacca in promoting regional cooperation, and that the Malaysian experience is a model that can be leveraged in the Arab region.
The forum comes at a time of increasing need to adopt integrated policies that achieve a balance between economic growth and the protection of the marine environment, especially in light of challenges such as maritime security crises, marine pollution, ecosystem degradation, overfishing, and climate change. The organizers hope that the blue economy will constitute a strategic opportunity to foster innovation and build practical solutions that achieve balanced economic and environmental gains for the Yemen, Gulf, and Red Sea regions.
With this knowledge-based momentum and regional engagement, the OASIS Forum continues its activities with a clear goal in mind: empowering youth, stimulating entrepreneurship, and harnessing marine potential to achieve sustainable development that benefits future generations, while taking into account environmental protection and the rights of people with disabilities.
