Details on Maritime Vision for Indonesia Are Floated

Holds Water: Jokowi justifies maritime ambitions to neighboring states’ leaders at East Asia Summit

Jakarta Globe, Robertus Wardi, Nov 14, 2014

The administration plans to develop 31 seaports, enhance naval capabilities, and
expand credit access for local fishermen. (Reuters Photo/Darren Whiteside)

Naypyidaw, Myanmar. President Joko Widodo says Indonesia is keen revive its long-abandoned maritime tradition, citing it as the first of his five pillars to transform the archipelago into a “global maritime axis.”

“As a nation of 17,000 islands, Indonesians must realize that its identity, prosperity and future as a nation greatly depends on how we manage the sea,” Joko said in his address on Thursday at the East Asia Summit in the Myanmar capital Naypyidaw.

Joko highlighted Indonesia’s history as a seafaring nation, which was lost decades ago as the country’s economy shifted to agriculture and manufacturing.

The president also hinted Indonesia would become more protective of its fishing and maritime resources. “Our maritime resources will be used largely to benefit of our own people,” he said.

However, the third pillar, he said, would be to open up Indonesian waters as major regional and international shipping lanes.

Speaking on the sidelines of the summit, Cabinet Secretary Andi Widjajanto said the administration planned to build 24 ports across Indonesia that would accommodate mid-sized ferries and connect Indonesia’s major islands. There are also plans to add seven sea ports for international cargo ships.

The administration also plans to revitalize and expand existing ports to accommodate more ships.

Andi also said the Joko administration aimed to empower local fishermen by easing access to credit and creating fish-processing plants.

The administration’s fourth pillar will be strengthening cooperation with neighboring states to eliminate “potential for conflict like fish poaching, encroachment, border disputes, piracy and pollution,” Andi said.

The fifth pillar consists of Indonesia’s ambition to strengthen its Navy.

“Indonesia will be a force to connect two oceans as a prosperous and sovereign nation,” Andi said. “We need [to develop Indonesia’s Navy] not only to protect our sovereignty and maritime wealth, but also as our responsibility to ensure maritime safety and security.”

Andi said Joko would create an umbrella agency tasked with monitoring and securing Indonesian waters.

The new coordinating agency will combine forces from the Navy, the police forces’ water units and the Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry’s patrol unit to perform all sea-related tasks, including search and rescue. “With those forces combined, patrolling the sea should be more frequent and coordinated,” Andi said.