Maritime Power Ambition Seen as Cure to Unhealthy Economy

Liputan6.com, Jakarta The Indonesian government has previously expressed its desire to make the archipelago nation a maritime power both in the regional and global arena. Despite uncertain economic climate that recently plagued the nation to its core, the government is reminded to avoid overlooking 5 main agendas that are specifically designed to actualize its maritime ambition.

Indonesia is rich with both natural and human resources. Unfortunately, up until now the two have not been utilized in the most effective and efficient manner thereby hindering the nation’s road to development.

Head of Regional House of Representatives (DPD), Irman Gusman outlines the five main points the government ought to focus on as to achieve maritime ambition amidst volatile economic condition.

“DPD has proposed the notion of maritime agenda to be fully included in the Indonesian law. This is important for the furtherance of our maritime ambition,” Irman said, Wednesday (2/9/2015). The first and foremost agenda is for the government along with involving Ministries and departments to form policies, design strategies and establishing estimated mapping of the sea route.

The second agenda is to nationally campaign and promote the nation’s maritime beauty and resourcefulness whilst remaking the maritime culture’s image by revising educational curriculum for this particular subject.

The third one is to build or multiply the number of maritime- related facilities which include research center on the technological development of this particular sector.

The fourth one is for those in the political spectrum to allocate reasonable budget for the realization of such maritime ambition.

The last but not least agenda is to prepare relevant financial institution to back up any financial needs relating to the development of maritime sector.

“A country is called a maritime power only if it shows capabilities in utilizing, sustaining and maintaining its maritime resources,” Irman stated.

With such vast natural resources, Indonesia needs both thorough maritime security system and specific laws to safeguard it. If the country fail to manage its maritime security then everything else may be largely ineffective in application and execution.

The Director of Indonesian Maritime Centre, Rommy Gozali previously said that maritime system as well as laws upon it have to be thoroughly discussed, examined and implemented as to prevent other countries from stealing Indonesia’s resources and for them to reconsider performing illegal fishing.

"Illegal fishing is a big slap on our faces, it is almost like a mockery directed to our arguably weak maritime security system. Weak in a sense that we failed to prevent and monitor any foreign vessels into coming into the Indoneisan water and steal our fishes. Most of them were captured when they were already inside and have caught many of our sea potentials. We should be able to prevent them even before they reached the border," Rommy explained on Sunday 7 June 2015.

As for efforts put out in the education sector, a big move has been made with President Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo officially launched the grand opening of IPC Corporate University at Bogor, West Java on May 5 2015.

The Director of PT. Pelabuhan Indonesia or as many commonly refer to Indonesia Port Corporation (IPC), RJ Lino explained how the university is a sister company to the existing PT Pelabuhan Indonesia II which was formally established in 2013.

According to Lino, the campus itself is designed to facilitate ambitious and potential students with knowledge, information and practical activities about ports, harbors, maritime and logistics.

"After its formal establishment, IPC Corporate University has conducted a number of training programs specifically envisioning competent students as 'centre of excellence' particularly in the field of harbour affairs. Prioritized programs include subjects such as terminal container, non- container terminal, marine service and logistics," Lino shared during a press conference on Tuesday 5 May 2015.

Lino hoped for the campus to support the realization of various government programs specifically in the field of maritime and naval industries.

"We would like to thank all involving parties who have supported the process of this campus development from its inception to its official launching this morning. We hope for IPC University to exert positive and significant impacts on the operational performance of Indonesian harbour industry," he continued.

"IPC Corporate University symbolizes our support for government and its special attention directed to maritime industry," he concluded. (Akp/Ein)