Indonesia Has Enormous Potential to Become Global Maritime Axis, President Jokowi Says

INDUSTRY.co.id - Indonesia, the world’s largest archipelagic country with 17,000 islands, a coastline of more than 108,000 kilometers and the world’s largest marine biodiversity, should become the world’s maritime axis, according to President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo.

“We must continuously restore and strengthen Indonesia’s identity as a maritime nation, not only through maritime jargons, but through real work in various fields,” the President said during the 2021 National Maritime Day Commemoration, Thursday (23/09).

According to the President, Indonesia must make the best endeavor to improve maritime connectivity and maritime security to protect public and national interests, adding that empowering maritime potential is the key to achieving more equitable economic growth, increasing the added value, and uniting Indonesia as a nation.

“The Government has been taking all necessary measures and will continue to make the best endeavor to improve connectivity of all islands in the archipelago, not only through building large and small ports on small and isolated islands, but also through the sea toll program to facilitate mobility of goods and people in our islands to ensure better public services and increase the added value of the local economies,” the President said.

Even though the location is far from the centers of national economic activity, the President added, remote islands and coastal communities have huge economic potentials.

“The potentials of marine-based food industry such as fisheries and marine biodiversity, the potentials of maritime tourism by utilizing resources and beauty of the sea, and the potentials of the medicine and health supplement industry based on marine biodiversity can serve as the basis for Indonesia’s economic growth that is equitably distributed across the archipelago,” President Jokowi stated.

On that occasion, the Head of State also underscored that science and technology play a very strategic role in supporting Indonesia as the world’s maritime axis.

“We must continuously strive for the utilization and development of science and technology for the growth of our domestic shipping industry, not only shipbuilding industry, but also the global-scale transportation and logistics services industry. We must continue to develop them,” the President said, adding that everyone must change their point of view on the sea.

“The sea is not a separator; it is a connector that links our islands together. The sea is not our backyard; it is our front yard. The sea is not a place to dispose of items we don’t need; it is a place for us to live,” President Jokowi added.

The President further said that the sea is a source of livelihood where a lot of treasure is stored and is a God-given gift that must be protected.

“Our conscientious endeavor and utilization of science and technology will shape us into a strong and prosperous country supported by our maritime capacity. Happy National Maritime Day. Let’s make Indonesia the world’s maritime axis for an advanced and just Indonesia,” the President remarked.