REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, BEIJING -- Indonesia and China are further strengthening their commitment to working together in the field of the Blue Economy, which includes the sustainable use of marine resources. This was marked by the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on “Deepening Blue Economy Cooperation” between the Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, Airlangga Hartarto, and the Minister of Commerce of the PRC, Wang Wentao, in Beijing on Saturday afternoon (9/11/2024).
The signing of the MoU witnessed by RI President Prabowo Subianto and Chinese President Xi Jinping marks an important step by both countries in developing the potential of marine economies to support sustainable economic growth. The MoU covers cooperation in the sectors of renewable marine energy, fisheries, aquaculture, maritime tourism, and marine industry innovation.
Sectors to be focused in this cooperation include downstream marine products such as marine food processing and marine biopharmaceuticals, as well as the shipping industry, port construction, and marine transport. Cooperation also includes the development of clean energy sources, including photovoltaics, wind power, and tidal energy, as well as the construction of inter-island transmission networks.
Minister of Airlangga Hartarto stressed the importance of this collaboration, considering that Indonesia as an island nation has great potential in the marine sector, while RRT has highly advanced marine technology. “This cooperation is essential to harness the sea potential of Indonesia, which is the largest proportion of our country's territory, to support inclusive and sustainable economic growth,” he said in a statement on Sunday (10/11/2024).
According to Airlangga, the marine sector has a strategic role in achieving Indonesia's economic growth target which is expected to reach 8 percent by 2028-2029. Collaboration with China is expected to add value to the products and services of Indonesia's marine sector, while accelerating the transition to a green economy with a focus on emissions reduction and green technology investment.
Through this MoU, the two countries also agreed to engage various parties, including local governments, the private sector, research institutions, financial institutions, and businesspeople, to explore opportunities for cooperation that could accelerate the development of the Blue Economy.