Indonesia showcases KNMP as blue economy model to ASEAN delegates
Indonesia introduced the Red and White Fishing Village (Kampung Nelayan Merah Putih, KNMP) in Lateng, Banyuwangi, to the ASEAN-ID Blue delegation as an example of the country’s blue economy implementation, integrating the strengthening of fishermen’s livelihoods, cooperatives, MSMEs and community-based tourism.
The Acting Director-General for Strengthening the Competitiveness of Marine and Fisheries Products at the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP), Erwin Dwiyana, said KNMP is a derivative of the blue economy policy in the marine and fisheries sector that Indonesia has been promoting in various international forums.
“KNMP Lateng is one of the President’s national priority programmes aimed at strengthening coastal communities through fisheries-based economic development,” Erwin said in a statement from the KKP in Jakarta on Friday.
The ASEAN-ID Blue delegation’s visit to KNMP Lateng on 17-18 July 2026 formed part of a forum series organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in cooperation with the Banyuwangi Regency Government and the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
The forum carried the theme “Community-Led Blue Economy: Advancing Coastal Conservation, Sustainable Livelihoods and Tourism Cooperation”.
According to Erwin, KNMP Lateng was chosen as the visit location because it illustrates an integrated fisheries value chain, ranging from cooperative-based economic activities and MSME development to culinary entrepreneurship, as well as community participation in improving livelihoods and creating added value in coastal areas.
Ali Rahmat Iman Santoso, Director of Business Empowerment at the KKP’s Directorate-General for Strengthening the Competitiveness of Marine and Fisheries Products, said the development of KNMP aims to improve fishermen’s welfare by strengthening their capacity to manage fisheries businesses more professionally, thereby increasing added value and competitiveness.
He added that KNMP Lateng has different characteristics compared with other fishing villages because it develops a culinary centre with building designs adopting the traditional architecture of the Osing people.
During the visit, the ASEAN-ID Blue delegation inspected various facilities at KNMP Lateng, including supply kiosks, a fishermen’s pavilion, an ice factory, refrigerated vehicles and a culinary centre.
The delegation also viewed an exhibition of fishery products from both large-scale fish processing units and MSMEs mentored by the Banyuwangi Regency Fisheries Office.
“We hope the participants are impressed by the blue economy implementation at KNMP Lateng while also getting to know the area’s distinctive products. That way, the goal of improving fishermen’s welfare can be achieved,” said Ali.
ASEAN-ID Blue is a learning and experience-sharing forum combining policy dialogue, field visits and the involvement of various stakeholders.
The forum aims to promote best practices in coastal conservation, sustainable livelihoods and community-based tourism as an implementation of the ASEAN Blue Economy Framework and the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP), while strengthening collaboration among ASEAN countries, the East Asia Summit (EAS) and members of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF).