Indonesia pushes for blue economy in Asean

JAKARTA: Indonesia has called on member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) to push for the measurement and formulation of a framework to pursue a blue economy in the region.

The call was conveyed by Indonesian Minister of National Development Planning Suharso Monoarfa on Monday at a virtual session of the Asean Blue Economy Forum in Tanjung Pandan city, Indonesia’s Bangka Belitung Islands province.

The forum was attended by delegates from the Asean countries as well as private stakeholders and think tanks. Indonesia hosted the Asean Blue Economy Forum from July 2 to July 4.

“More than 66 percent of Southeast Asia’s area consists of ocean and sea. Thus, the blue economy has big potential to become a new engine for regional development,” Monoarfa said.

“The transition to a blue economy is a new opportunity to expectedly increase our GDP (gross domestic product) growth,” he added.

The blue economy aims to establish inclusive and long-lasting economic growth by using marine resources while at the same time intervening to preserve and protect them.

Monoarfa said the Asean Blue Economic Framework would serve as a platform to establish common perceptions and plans for realizing a blue economy for countries in the Southeast Asian region.

It is expected to contain principles of inclusiveness and sustainability without putting aside the traditional values of each member country. xinhua