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Government looks for untapped potential in blue economy
The National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas) believes the archipelago’s vast maritime territories could do more for Indonesia’s economic development.
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File photo. The government believes Indonesia's vast maritime territories can spur economic development. (AFP/Khaled Desouki)
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ndonesia’s vast maritime territory should play a greater role in spurring the country’s economy, says a government agency tasked with drawing up long-term plans for national development.
In a press conference at the National Development Planning Conference in Jakarta on Tuesday, the National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas) highlighted the so-called blue economy as a new area of focus in the government’s “effort to transform the economy.”
This could “revitalize the [ASEAN] region”, said Bappenas undersecretary for economic affairs Amalia Adininggar Widyasanti, “so that, when we set up the market in the region, we are not only generating high, but also inclusive and sustainable economic growth.”
She added that Indonesia would release its blue economy road map in July.
The term blue economy broadly refers to activities involving maritime and coastal territories and marine resources, such as fishing and aquaculture, coastal tourism, seabed mining, generating renewable energy like wave power and tidal power as well as freight shipping and passenger transportation.
Bappenas’ announcement is connected to the launch of the ASEAN Blue Economy Framework at the 42nd ASEAN Summit held last week in Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara.
"Under Indonesia’s ASEAN Chairmanship, Bappenas has established an initiative to develop the blue economy into a new source of economic growth in the ASEAN region," said Amalia.
