Indonesia bats for firm ASEAN blue economy actions

JAKARTA – Indonesia advocates for concrete steps to realize the ASEAN blue economy framework, according to Netty Muharni, deputy for regional economic cooperation at the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs.

Under the 2024 Laos ASEAN chairmanship, Indonesia held the 2nd ASEAN Blue Economy Forum in Vientiane, Laos, on Aug. 10 to 11.

"This forum marks an important step in the ASEAN Blue Economy Framework (ABEF) implementation, which was endorsed by ASEAN leaders in 2023," Muharni said in a statement on Thursday.

Activities during Laos' ASEAN chairmanship, backed by Indonesia, ensured the blue economy remained on the agenda.

Muharni said blue economy implementation requires a mature, holistic, and practical plan.

Therefore, it is important to urge all ASEAN countries to apply blue economy initiatives and explore partnerships with stakeholders and dialogue partners.

These efforts would help realize concrete and feasible results in the blue economy agenda, which contributes nearly 30 percent to the region's economy.

Furthermore, Muharni said that ASEAN can lead blue economy development globally by utilizing marine potential, driving economic growth, and strengthening innovation and collaboration.

The 2nd ASEAN Blue Economy Forum discussed blue conservation using science and technology, innovation, and added value creation in priority sectors.

"Blue economy cooperation is crucial for both ASEAN and the Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle (IMT-GT)," Muharni said.

The forum produced a number of practical recommendations, such as establishing a regional science, technology, and innovation alliance to boost technology adoption; involving the private sector to bolster the commercialization of technology; and joint financing of pilot projects and research and development.

The forum's results were presented at the first meeting of the ASEAN Coordinating Task Force on Blue Economy (ACTF-BE) on Aug. 11. (PNA)