Indonesia's Marine Wealth Must Bring Prosperity to Coastal Communities and Maritime Industry Players

Indonesia’s marine wealth must bring prosperity to coastal communities and maritime industry players.

• Special

Jakarta, VIVA – The Marine Actions Expo (MAX) 2026, officially opened at the Kartika Expo Center in Balai Kartini, Jakarta, on Friday, 24 April 2026, centres on the theme of the blue economy.

However, for the organisers, this theme is not merely a development slogan or a modern economic term, but a call for Indonesia’s marine riches to truly deliver prosperity to coastal communities and national maritime industry players.

During the opening ceremony, MAX Co-Founder Aishah Gray emphasised that the blue economy must be understood in practical terms, providing direct benefits to fishermen, tourism guides, divers, local operators, maritime SMEs, and Indonesia’s young maritime generation.

“Today, we are talking about the blue economy. A term that sounds grand, modern, and full of promise. But for us, the blue economy must have a much more tangible meaning. The blue economy must mean prosperity for coastal communities, for fishermen, for tourism guides, for local operators, and for Indonesia’s young maritime generation,” said Aishah Gray in her speech.

Indonesia is considered to possess extraordinary potential to become a major force in the global maritime economy. With more than 17,000 islands, a coastline of around 108,000 kilometres, and world-renowned marine wealth and coral reefs, Indonesia’s maritime tourism sector continues to show promising growth.

Yet amid this optimism, MAX carries an important message that industrial growth must not leave behind the local communities who have long been part of coastal life.

“Do not let our seas be heavily promoted, but the coastal people become mere spectators in their own home,” stated Aishah Gray.

In addition to the issue of equitable economic benefits, MAX also highlights the importance of occupational safety in the maritime sector. According to Aishah, industrial growth must be accompanied by improvements in supporting facilities, including access to hyperbaric services and emergency response systems for divers and sea workers.

“There is one important thing that must not be forgotten when we talk about the maritime industry: safety. This industry is highly valuable, with billions of rupiah in turnover, but the lives of our divers still often depend on limited access to hyperbaric facilities,” she said.

MAX also conveys the importance of fair and pro-local workforce governance. Indonesia is open to global collaborations, but opportunities for local instructors, guides, divers, and entrepreneurs must still be protected.