42nd ASEAN Summit in Labuan Bajo, Momentum to Revive NTT’s Maritime Potential
42nd ASEAN Summit in Labuan Bajo, Momentum to Revive NTT’s Maritime Potential
The potential for marine tourism in Labuan Bajo is the main attraction of the 42nd ASEAN Summit.
Jakarta (Maritimnews) – The 42nd Summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (42nd ASEAN Summit) which will be held in Labuan Bajo, West Manggarai, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) on 9 – 11 May 2023 received responses from figures Young NTT who is also a Maritime Observer from the Lemhanas Strategic Center Alumni Association (IKAL SC), Capt. Marcellus Hakeng Jayawibawa.
He appreciated President Joko Widodo’s government’s decision to appoint Labuan Bajo as the location for the 42nd ASEAN Summit. Moreover, President Jokowi, when he arrived at Komodo Airport on Sunday (7/5/2023), said in front of the media crew that this was a very good momentum to market Labuan Bajo, so that the world knows that in Indonesia there is something called Labuan Bajo in East Nusa Tenggara.
“As a son of NTT, I am of course very proud and appreciate the government’s decision to make Labuan Bajo the location for the 24th ASEAN Summit. Additionally, the Head of State said that this was the time to market Labuan Bajo. This means that the President is very concerned with Labuan Bajo, which is a marine tourism area. “And this also shows that President Jokowi is committed to launching Indonesia’s program to become the World Maritime Axis,” said Capt. Hakeng in his press statement, Tuesday (9/5/23) in Jakarta.
Furthermore, the son of NTT also appreciated the Government for serving a variety of seafood for the delegates of the 42nd ASEAN Summit. ‘The vastness of Indonesia’s maritime region has many potential sources of natural wealth such as potential fish protein.
“The Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries includes the NTT fisheries area as part of Zone 3, namely WPPNRI 715 and 718 which consists of the Aru Sea, Arafuru Sea and the East Timor Sea which is NTT’s marine area. The fishing quota in this zone is almost 3 million tons with an economic value of around IDR 85 trillion. “So this ASEAN Summit moment can also be used as an event to attract investors in the fisheries sector,” explained Capt. Hakeng.
He still said that the potential for capture fisheries resources in NTT based on data from the KKP is quite large. However, what is managed is still low, only around 40% of the sustainable potential, namely 388.7 tons per year with the main catch being pelagic fish, namely tuna, skipjack, mackerel, selar, mackerel and demersal fish, namely grouper, snapper, lobster. , squid, shellfish and others.
The 42nd ASEAN Summit is expected to be a step to further market the tourism potential in NTT.
“NTT Province also has marine tourism spots that are no less interesting than other Indonesian provinces. Labuan Bajo holds the natural beauty of underwater biodiversity. The potential for marine tourism in NTT is certainly very promising, for diving, surfing, snorkeling or fishing, because of its large sea area. Attractive sea waves for surfers can be found in Nemberala Rote. “Then Alor has a very beautiful marine park,” he explained.
The 42nd ASEAN Summit raised the theme “ASEAN Matters: Epicentrum of Growth”, showing the ability of the ASEAN region to be the center of world economic growth in the future as stated by President Jokowi, in his statement in Labuan Bajo, West Manggarai, NTT, Monday (8/5/ 2023). According to Capt. Hakeng is considered very appropriate to raise the enthusiasm of the people of NTT, especially the youth, to love the maritime sector.
According to Capt. Hakeng can be used as an arena for maritime diplomacy between the Indonesian government and Vietnam regarding maritime boundaries and the determination of Exclusive Economic Zone boundaries and also with several other ASEAN member countries such as Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand. Apart from that, continued Capt. Hakeng at this summit hopes that Indonesia can become a driving force in increasing cooperation in the maritime sector with ASEAN members.
“Indonesia must be able to become a driving force in increasing cooperation and strength in the maritime sector. Remembering that Indonesia consists of 17,504 islands stretching from Sabang to Merauke, from Miangas to Rote. The total area of Indonesia is around 7.81 million square kilometers (km2). Of which 5.80 km2 is ocean or 67 percent of Indonesia’s territory is water. “Moreover, currently there has been a shift in world attention and activity from the Mediterranean and Atlantic regions to the Indopacific region,” he explained.
Capt. Marcellus Hakeng Jayawibawa.
At the end of his press statement, Capt. Hakeng said that ASEAN could partner to overcome security issues in the Pacific and Indian Ocean seas and to be able to jointly overcome pollution in the sea, especially waste, where Indonesia itself is committed to reducing plastic waste in the ocean by 70 percent by 2025. (*)
