Jakarta (Antara Bali) - The government is considering developing two transshipment ports to support its dream of transforming the country into an international maritime axis and a world's biggest economy.
With the two transshipment points along with the maritime axis, Indonesia could take over the role of Singapore as the only point of transit port for goods coming into Indonesia. The two transshipment ports which are expected to be located in the western and eastern parts of the country could turn Indonesia into the world's sixth largest economy.
"So far, Singapore is the only transshipment point. We have to send goods to Singapore and from Singapore the goods are delivered to Kalimantan and Sulawesi. This is not an efficient way," Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Rizal Ramli said Thursday.
Therefore, the government is willing to build two large main seaports to take over the role of Singapore.
"We want to build one in Sumatra (western part), possibly in Dumai (Riau Province) or South Sumatra and one in the eastern region. It could be in Lombok or Bitung," Minister Rizal Ramli said.
His office is open to various initiatives for the development of the two transshipment seaports to support the growth of economic and business activities, he said. Thus, the Indonesian economic growth would be high.
Being a world maritime axis with two transshipment seaports, Indonesia will be classified as the world's sixth largest economy in the coming 30 years.
"That is why other countries, including the Netherlands, have a lot of reasons to cooperate with Indonesia, which also serves as a gate to the ten member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
Regarding the maritime axis vision, Rizal Ramli said the program being implemented by President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) and his government is currently running positively.
The government should work on two important aspects in order to make Indonesia a world maritime axis, according to the Ministry of National Development Planning.
The first was the economic aspect of the maritime and marine sector, Deputy for Maritime and Natural Resources of the Ministry of National Development Planning, Endah Murniningtyas, said last week (March 8). She termed it the pillar of the maritime axis' development.
The second aspect was the governance, as it is the efficacy of governance that will decide the success of the world maritime axis, she said.
"The two aspects need to be managed in an integrated manner for Indonesia to become a world maritime axis," Endah said in an official statement.
Currently, the marine and maritime sector contributes some 11.8 percent to the country's gross domestic product (GDP). The contribution is expected to increase to 20 percent by 2020.
In an effort to realize the vision, concrete steps need to be taken, beginning with affirming sovereignty, ensuring sea connectivity development, regional development, and reinforcement of core economic aspects, in addition to technological mastery and improvement of institutions.
The establishment of a maritime culture is very important as a first step to transform the nation into a maritime axis, according to Rizal Ramli. Towards this end, five pillars must be realized to help Indonesia become a maritime axis. After all, progress in these areas is now beginning to show results.
The first pillar is the need to build a maritime culture by raising awareness and motivating the people to realize the vision.
The second pillar aims to utilize marine resources through the shipping industry, with fishermen as the main supporters.
In this case, the government would procure five thousand ships during the next five years. The government will make every effort to take action against the perpetrators of maritime thefts.
Minister Rizal Ramli explained that the third pillar aimed to develop infrastructure and inter-island connectivity. The government, led by President Widodo and Vice President Jusuf Kalla, has successfully built various infrastructure facilities to boost connectivity.
The fourth initiative was to promote maritime diplomacy. In the past year, all parties have played their role in enhancing maritime diplomacy, Ramli stated.
He cited as an example the Indonesian Navy which has organized several events across the world in which it has showcased its arsenal.
The fifth pillar focuses on strengthening maritime defense. Indonesia should strengthen the Navy, both in terms of its arsenal and personnel, to become the greatest power in Southeast Asia, he affirmed.
In the next five years, Indonesia would regain its past glory as a maritime nation, Ramli hoped.
As to the second pillar which aims to utilize marine resources through the shipping industry, fishermen are the main supporters.
The policy to improve the welfare of Indonesian fishermen as one of the pillars of the maritime axis development should not be ignored by various sides in the country, the Indonesian Traditional Fishermen Association (KTNA) had said earlier.
"I believe that improving the welfare of Indonesian fishermen is one of the important pillars for the development of Indonesia in the world maritime axis," KNTI M Chairman Riza Damanik said late last month (February 29).
In order to achieve the goal, there is a need to strengthen the participation of people in supervising the empowerment and protection program for fishermen, according to Riza Damanik.
Therefore, the government should involve the people in the supervision of the program.
"This is important in view of the fact that in the past the government has provided assistance to fishermen in the form of fishing vessels, fishing nets and other items, but the program failed because it did not include the participation of people since the beginning," he said.
The government intends to assist fishermen again, he said. It should be ensured that people are involved in the supervision so that the program does not fail again. (WDY)
