Eleven companies from France involved in marine innovation cluster attended a seminar, entitled, "Development of Infrastructure Technology for Ports and Maritime Security," on Tuesday.
"This was the first formal forum for bilateral maritime cooperation between Indonesia and France, even though maritime related cooperation with France has been going on for long," said Deputy I Maritime Sovereignty, Coordinator Ministry for Maritime, Arif Havas Oegroseno, here on Tuesday.
Arif said the cooperation included military equipment. France built a hydrographic survey ship for the Indonesian Navy.
"Indonesian Navy's hydrographic survey ship, namely KRI Rigel and KRI Spica, was the most advanced naval research ship in Asia, and was made in France," he reminded.
Arif explained that the bilateral maritime cooperation forum involving France was an initiative undertaken by both the countries in view of the need for structured cooperation in certain priority sectors.
French Ambassador to Indonesia Corrine Breuze stressed the country has the ability to realize President Jokowi's dream of becoming the pivot of the worlds maritime traffic.
She also explained that France has a special body to accommodate the interests of companies working in the maritime sector.
Indonesia believes that such cooperation will help in many ways, including technology transfer.
"We have the ability in the maritime sector that can support Indonesias aspirations," she observed.
Apart from a number of French maritime companies, the forum also witnessed the participation of representatives of a number of relevant ministries/agencies, such as Transportation Ministry, the Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry, the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM), the Agency for the Assessment and Application of Technology (BPPT), and Pelindo.(WDY)
