Indonesia as Global Maritime Axis, U.S Injects US$35 Million

Liputan6.com, Jakarta The Indonesian maritime sector has earned itself a prominent status in the eyes of the world. With President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo announcing his ambition to make the Indonesia maritime power the most powerful one in the Indo-Pacific region and at the same time the Minister of Maritime and Fisheries Susi Pudjiastuti determinedly eliminating foreign vessels caught performing illegal fishing in the Indonesian ocean, it is very likely that the sector will be better improved in the near future.

Strengthening maritime security is of a great importance for the better formation of maritime power. The United States is fascinated with this intention and decided to inject US$ 35 million to help the improvement of Indonesian maritime sector and to help achieve the notion of the country as the maritime power.

"First of all the injected fund will be allocated to the restoration of Indonesian maritime sector and to secure the fish supply there," The American Ambassador to Indonesia Robert O. Blake said at the Indonesia- America Network, Jakarta, Tuesday (20/01/2015).

Blake further explains how the funds will also be used to help address the issue of illegal fishing which has now been considered as one of the main issues burdening the country. He personally expresses his concern of the case.

“The third one, we will establish university partnership so that we can continue our cooperation through education which has been done in 4 US universities, one of them is San Diego University,” he explained.

In the future, the US government plans to again inject US$ 33 million. This plan immediately attracts Jokowi’s attention. "The fund is now in the process to be executed," he said. (Akp)