Indonesian Navy, Universities Sign Mou On Maritime Research

Banda Aceh warship (Antara Bali)- The Indonesian Navy's Chief of Staff Admiral Ade Supandi and the Council of Rectors of Indonesian State Universities' (MRPTNI's) Chairman Prof. Herry Suhardiyanto signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on maritime research and education.

"We have to benefit from this cooperation. The concept of welfare must be the focus. We are prosperous due to the seas and not in the seas," the admiral stated aboard Banda Aceh 593 warship on the sidelines of the event on Thursday.

The cooperation is aimed at improving the quality of human resources in the maritime field.

"As we will not be able to benefit from the maritime sector without technology, innovation, and competent human resources," he emphasized.

Prof. Suhardiyanto, who is concurrently rector of the Bogor Institute of Agriculture (IPB), remarked that the country's vast maritime territory must be able to improve the welfare of Indonesians.

"But there are several challenges. There is no other choice left for us but to establish cooperation to develop the maritime sector," he noted.

He pointed out that innovation and technology are needed as the nation could no longer be managed by using a conventional approach.

"We need to formulate policies based on science," he added. (WDY)