Heaptalk, Jakarta — Indonesia embarkes to consider the blue economy as a new engine of economic growth. In its blue economy roadmap, the world’s second-longest coastline country who posseses 17,508 islands aims to increase the maritime sector’s contribution to its GDP to 15% in 2045, compared to the previous 7.9% in 2022.
This Jokowi-led country will also continue to advance transformative technologies and sustainable practices to ensure that all segments of society enjoy the benefits of the Blue Economy.
“Coastal communities face higher vulnerabilities to the impacts of climate change, covering rising sea levels, which amplifies the urgency for innovative solutions,” explained the Minister of National Development Planning / Head of Bappenas, Suharso Monoarfa, at the Parallel Event Blue Economy Innovation: For Shared Prosperity during the World Water Forum 2024: Water for Shared Prosperity. (5/19)
The agenda, which was also attended by the Acting Governor of Bali, Representatives of the 4P OECD, CSIRO Advisors, IUCN, Co-Founder of Uluu, Academics, and the private sector, served as a forum for exchanging views and fostering partnerships that promote this economy and ensure fair and sustainable prosperity. The blue economy is the country’s commitment to advancing inclusive economic development.
“Innovative solutions in fisheries, aquaculture, and marine tourism are utilized to enhance livelihoods, protect biodiversity, and mitigate the impacts of climate change,” Deputy for Economic Affairs at the Ministry of National Development Planning, Adininggar Widyasanti, voiced.
This matter aligns with the efforts of the Bali Provincial Government to manage marine resources sustainably and conservatively to boost Bali’s economic growth. “The Segara Kerthi philosophy aligns with the Blue Economy concept which emphasizes community participation, resource efficiency, creating double added value, involving more labor, and reaching zero waste,” Explained Acting Governor of Bali, Mahendra Jaya.
The agenda is expected to provide an understanding of this economy sector concept and the potential to advance shared prosperity through innovation. For this reason, Minister Suharso emphasized three primary aspects in achieving blue economy objectives, including:
- national and global governance
- multi-stakeholder understanding and agreement
- government and private investment
“With the commitment and cooperation of all parties, we can realize a sustainable blue economy that significantly benefits national development and the well-being of our people,” Minister Suharso concluded.
