Ministries eye updated cooperation to boost blue economy employment

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia's Marine Affairs and Fisheries Ministry and Ministry of Manpower announced their plan to revise and update their shared memorandum of understanding to pursue more effective absorption of the workforce in the blue economy sector.

"Due to changes in nomenclature, we will revise a memorandum of understanding, which we agreed upon with the Ministry of Manpower in 2022," Marine Affairs and Fisheries Minister Sakti Wahyu Trenggono remarked in Jakarta on Friday (March 14).

He expressed confidence that his ministry's blue economy-related programs could create numerous job opportunities across the country.

"For instance, we will soon launch a shrimp cultivation initiative in Waingapu, Sumba Island, East Nusa Tenggara Province," he stated.

Trenggono then emphasized that his ministry's initiatives to revitalize unproductive and idle ponds for the cultivation of saline tilapia along the north coastal area (Pantura) of Java Island could create tens of thousands of employment opportunities.

The minister, however, underlined that enhancing the workforce's skills is necessary to optimize the outcomes of these measures.

On that note, he stated that the two ministries would cooperate in organizing thematic capacity-building sessions at their vocational training centers to tailor the workforce's skills to the actual needs.

Moreover, he highlighted that the collaboration would encompass measures for enhancing safety and protection for ship crew members, noting that they will be certified to facilitate the Ministry of Manpower to monitor them.

"We will continuously exchange information in a bid to create job openings, absorb workers, and ensure their protection, with the end goals of reducing unemployment and stimulating the economy," he remarked.

Meanwhile, Manpower Minister Yassierli lauded the roadmap for blue economic programs devised by the Marine Affairs and Fisheries Ministry.

"I learned that (marine resource) cultivation initiatives are expected to absorb as many as 40 thousand workers," he noted.

Yassierli stated that Trenggono's ministry also aims to support the development of strategic products essential for boosting Indonesia's competitiveness.