Indonesia-China Blue Economy: A Collaborative Step Toward Advancing Marine-Based Economic Growth

Jakarta, INTI - Indonesia and China are strengthening their economic relationship through an emerging sector, the blue economy. In a meeting held on Tuesday (Nov 5) in Jakarta, Indonesia's Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, Airlangga Hartanto, and Chinese Ambassador to Indonesia, Wang Lutong, discussed the potential cooperation in the marine economy sector. This collaboration is expected to be one of the major outcomes of President Joko Widodo's upcoming visit to China next week.

Blue economy, which involves the sustainable development of marine resources to support economic growth, is a focal point for both nations. With its vast maritime territory, Indonesia holds great potential in the marine sector, ranging from fisheries to ocean energy. This collaboration is not only aimed at boosting the economic value of the marine sector but also at improving the protection of marine ecosystems.

Collaboration in the Marine Sector: Opportunities in Fisheries and Ocean Energy

During the discussions, Minister Airlangga noted that the blue economy collaboration is expected to strengthen bilateral relations and open up new opportunities for marine industries, including marine product downstreaming, ocean energy, marine-based tourism, and marine biotechnology.

According to Indonesia’s Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP), the economic potential of Indonesia’s marine resources exceeds USD 1.33 trillion per year if managed optimally. Cooperation with China, which has advanced technologies and experience in the marine sector, is expected to help Indonesia maximize the value of its marine economy.

Boosting Sustainable Marine Tourism

The blue economy also focuses on developing sustainable marine tourism. With China’s support, Indonesia plans to develop eco-friendly marine tourism destinations across various islands, including Flores Sea and Raja Ampat. These areas will be promoted as sustainable tourism destinations that not only attract international visitors but also protect marine ecosystems.

China, with its experience in the Bohai Gulf and the South China Sea, offers technologies to minimize environmental impacts during the development of marine tourism. This technology will be crucial in creating tourist destinations that are both appealing and environmentally sustainable.

Synergy in Marine Biotechnology

Indonesia-China cooperation will also cover marine biotechnology, which involves utilizing marine resources such as algae and plankton for pharmaceutical and biomedical industries. With global demand for biotechnology products rising, this collaboration could lead to the development of innovative products that benefit public health while adding value to Indonesia’s marine sector.

A Vision for the Future: The President’s Visit to China

It is hoped that during President Joko Widodo’s visit to China, the two countries will finalize an agreement that includes various aspects of the blue economy. Support from both governments and the private sector is expected to accelerate projects in the marine sector, making blue economy a new pillar in Indonesia-China economic relations.

This visit will also be a pivotal moment for Indonesia to demonstrate its commitment to sustainable economic development. The blue economy is expected to create new jobs in the marine sector and contribute significantly to Indonesia’s overall economic growth.