Indonesia, China foster collaboration in marine HR development

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Indonesian Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) and the Chinese Ministry of Natural Resources have agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation in building human resource capacity in the fisheries sector.

This commitment was formalized through a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed by the Head of KKP's Marine and Fisheries Human Resources Counseling and Development Agency (BPPSDM), I Nyoman Radiarta, and the Deputy Director-General of the First Institute of Oceanography (FIO) of the Chinese Ministry, Zexun Wei.

"We are convinced that this cooperation will lead to educational, training, and scholarship programs, which, in turn, will help improve our human resource quality," Indonesian Marine Affairs and Fisheries Minister Sakti Wahyu Trenggono noted in a statement cited here on Saturday.

He expressed hope that this bilateral partnership would also support the development of a dedicated training center aimed at enhancing capacity in marine conservation and disaster risk mitigation.

"We view the FIO as a great partner, given its remarkable global reputation in oceanography," he added.

Trenggono outlined that the MoU encompasses a wide range of academic initiatives, including workshops, training programs, scholarships, and lecturer exchanges in the field of marine affairs and fisheries.

He further stated that the agreement would enable both nations to collaborate on conserving and rehabilitating marine ecosystems, establishing a joint marine meteorology station, building a training center, and creating a data center for monitoring coral reefs and seagrass meadows.

Moreover, the agreement serves as a foundation for future collaboration under the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021–2030).

"This MoU marks the start of a robust and enduring partnership. We hope it leads to tangible actions that help create a more sustainable and resilient marine and fisheries sector,” the minister affirmed.

The bilateral cooperation agreement follows a meeting between Minister Trenggono and Chinese Deputy Minister of Natural Resources, Sun Shuxian, in Jakarta on November 29 of last year.