Blue economy is among the main components of that aims to strengthen Indonesia’s maritime identity and defense capability while manage the country’s marine resources.

Concerning on better use of the coastal and marine ecosystem, blue economy concept offers a model of sustainable development that is expected to improve productivity and generate new jobs for the people. However, there needs to be concrete action and support from all parties to optimise the blue economy.

Speaking at the International Conference on Blue Economy for Sustainable Development in Jakarta, the Manpower Ministry`s expert staff of international relations, Abdul Wahab Bangkona stated that the blue economy is the development of green economy concept that focuses on high and massive productivity as well as sustainable resource optimisation to provide added value with better results.

Blue economy concept is also expected to increase employee productivity and create more jobs. To support this, Mr Bangkona noted that there should be a clear standard rules and systematic regulation that can be easily applied, Antara News reports.

Globally, Indonesia is the second largest producer of marine products with its aquaculture sector produces more than four million tons per year. The sector also contributed significantly to Indonesia’s national gross domestic product and absorbed about 4.1 percent of the country’s total workforce.

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As part of its commitment to the sustainable use of marine resources, Indonesia has taken active participation through engagement in regional forums such as the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA). Additionally, the country has also called on global community to pay serious attention to marine resources by adopting the concept of blue economy.

This concept could be implemented by changing the direction of development policies in an effort to keep the balance between economic growth and environmental conservation. Besides preserving marine and fishery resources in a sustainable manner, the blue growth initiative can increase income and open job opportunities for the people.

Initially, the blue growth initiative was agreed upon at the Voluntary Global Alliance meeting held in Jakarta in September 2014. Incorporated to the institutional framework of sustainable development, this initiative aimed to strengthen the pillars of natural resources and action plans. At the meeting, Indonesia has been declared as the axis of the global blue growth for its active role in international forums by taking strategic steps to start concrete actions with regard to blue growth fundamentals.

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