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Bilateral cooperation in maritime sector offers good future
If there is any sector where Indonesia and the Netherlands find common ground, then it's undoubtedly the maritime sector. The future for cooperation looks bright indeed. Let's take a look at the facts and understand why:
As a nation of more than 220 million people with 17,508 islands, a surface of 5,193,025 square kilometers, a vast coastline of 54,716 km and a potential yield of 6.3 million metric tons of fish, Indonesia's future lies at sea.
Like other countries with an economic zone of this magnitude, in protecting its legitimate interests Indonesia faces many challenges: illegal fishery, illegal logging, smuggling, piracy, (drug) trafficking and environmental crimes like oil-spills.
Law enforcement becomes more and more urgent. The coastal guard and the Indonesian Navy are obviously instrumental in addressing these problems. High-tech ships like fast patrol boats, and investments in the shipbuilding industry seem to be paramount.
The Dutch maritime sector is widely recognized as a provider of excellent innovative products and services in an ever-changing shipping industry. There has been a long-standing cooperation between the Indonesian Navy and the Royal Netherlands Navy, both sharing the same operational and logistical procedures. A number of Indonesian Navy vessels were built in the Netherlands. Furthermore, Indonesia has new plans for vessels to be built in the Netherlands with associated possibilities for transfer of technology to Indonesia.
The foundation for Dutch shipbuilding was laid in the 17th century. The knowledge and expertise acquired by the Netherlands ultimately became export products and left an indelible mark all over the world. Many languages include shipping terms borrowed from the Dutch. The globalization of the maritime industry in the past decades had a considerable impact on the Dutch maritime industry. It caused the need for innovation and the development of highly skilled people in order to provide the best value for money.
Newly built vessels became more and more the result of worldwide cooperation and local production. The Dutch shipbuilding and ship-repair industry boosted its position in the world market since 2000. It increased its share of the number of new sea-going vessels built. Transfer of technology became part and parcel of Dutch shipbuilding, as we can also witness today in Indonesia.
At this very moment, one Dutch shipyard is working together with PT Dumas in Surabaya in building state of the art vessels for the coastal guard (MOC) with Indonesian skills and the help of Dutch technology. Thus, contributing to the development of the Indonesian shipbuilding. This is an unique example of very successful cooperation also involving the Indonesian and Netherlands Governments. Both countries are confident that more of such high profile projects are to come. And there is hardly any limitation on what can be produced; be it sea-going vessels, navy ships, smaller vessels, fishing vessels, yacht-building or dredging equipment.
Dutch-designed ships are in a technological sense the most complex and sophisticated vessels in the world, yet no more expensive then others and more cost-effective to operate. The Dutch industry stands out by coming up with clever designs and providing training and an excellent level of after-sales service. Another important area of possible cooperation is the shared responsibility for marine life, good sea lanes and safety for shipping.
The Netherlands North Sea Directorate is often consulted by other governments for services ranging from simple advise to the design and installation of complete aid navigation systems, like buoys marking fairways.
Furthermore, the Netherlands has a complete network of maritime expertise centers. The Maritime research institute (MARIN), and TNO Delft are considered the best research institutes in the world in this field. The Netherlands offers an extensive range of maritime training programs, from occupational courses to technical training at university level.
Presently, Indonesia is seriously addressing the maritime challenges ahead. There seems to be growing awareness among the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Ministry of Communications and (not to forget) the Indonesian Navy that it is necessary to team up in order to protect the economic zone and sea lanes of communication. (i.e. the Strait of Malacca).
Investments in the maritime sector easily pay for themselves. The Netherlands is committed to assisting in the development of the Indonesian shipbuilding industry. We present and support Dutch shipbuilding companies, offer training facilities and technology transfer, and in specific cases, attractive financial scheme's involving Dutch government money.
What matters is an investment in a sustainable and long-lasting relationship in which mutual respect counts and both our countries benefit.