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Maritime policy spells a quick win for the next president
As a maritime nation, Indonesia's next leader needs a strong policy to enhance the country's position at the global maritime table and capitalize on the untapped potentials of its abundance of marine resources, including renewable energy sources, so it transforms into a strong and prosperous country.
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Balancing act: A container is unloaded from a ship by a crane on Jan. 6, 2024 at Belawan Port in Medan, North Sumatra. (Antara/Yudi)
Perusing the campaign platforms of the three presidential candidates, one will note a perceived lack of maritime vision, when leading Indonesia, the world's largest archipelagic nation, requires a more profound understanding of maritime affairs.
The new president elected on Feb. 14 needs a comprehensive strategy to fortify the nation's standing in geopolitics and geo-economics.
This is a stark contrast to President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's 2014 election campaign, during which he promoted his vision on the Global Maritime Fulcrum and Navigational Highway, also called a “sea toll”. However, Jokowi's maritime vision became less clear during his second term that began in 2019, creating a gap between vision and implementation.
Given the apparent lack of maritime vision among the 2024 presidential candidates, it is essential for the public at large to voice their concerns and offer practical insights.
This article aims to provide actionable steps that can be swiftly implemented, either as a quick win strategy or as part of the new president’s program for his first 100 days in office.
First is to establish a dedicated shipping ministry. There is an urgent need for a dedicated shipping ministry, a proposal that has been circulating within the local maritime community for the past five to six years. The existing bureaucratic model, with sea transportation falling under the Transportation Ministry, is deemed outdated for the evolving maritime landscape.
Countries like Vietnam and India have successfully organized their shipping sectors under the oversight of a dedicated minister. Indonesia needs to emulate these models to rectify the continuous damage inflicted on the national economy by the current system.
