Can Indonesia Become the World Maritime Axis? This is what the experts say

The maritime area in Labuan Bajo was filled with pinisi ships some time ago. (Ambrose Ardin)
Jakarta – Indonesia is known as the largest archipelagic country in the world. The coastline reaches 95,181 km and is the second largest in the world. Two-thirds of Indonesia’s territory is sea with an area of ​​5.8 million per square kilometer.

This condition makes Indonesia often referred to as the largest maritime country in the world. Even since childhood, Indonesian people have heard that their ancestors were sailors.

“My ancestors were sailors,… Loved to sail the vast ocean,… Crashing the waves without fear,… Facing storms is common. The wind blows the sails growing,… The waves crash on the shore,… Young people dare to rise now,… We are going to the sea in a crowd,” said the song written by Mrs. Soed, as quoted from the website of the Cabinet Secretariat of the Republic of Indonesia.

Therefore, it is not surprising that Indonesia has continued to plan to become the world’s maritime axis. However, until now there has been no massive movement taken by the government to realize this vision.

Could Indonesia Become the World Maritime Axis?
Dr Riant Nugroho MSi, Chair of the Indonesian Public Policy Society (MAKPI) said that Indonesia has enormous potential to become the world’s maritime axis.

However, there are still several things that need to be addressed to maximize this potential. For example, by maximally strengthening the role of the maritime sector.

This includes strengthening infrastructure, politics, law, security, economics, as well as social and cultural aspects.

But before discussing these various things in detail, there is one important thing that must not be forgotten. “Indonesia does not yet have a strong enough concept for the global maritime axis,” he said, quoted from the official website of the Sepuluh Nopember Institute of Technology (ITS).

According to him, currently what Indonesia is facing in realizing a world maritime axis country is an immature concept.

This happens because Indonesia has still not succeeded in formulating a strong and effective maritime policy concept.

“Therefore, the policies implemented are equally immature,” added Riant.

The MAKPI chairman explained that there is still no comprehensive and coherent policy in maritime development efforts in Indonesia.

Even though efforts are being made to build a sea highway, this step is considered to be less effective in supporting the fundamental development of the maritime sector.

“The immaturity of the concept and disorganized management makes everything even more shaky,” he said.

The Need for the Role of Academics and Practitioners
Riant believes that to overcome obstacles, Indonesia needs to strengthen the maritime sector to the maximum. Such as improving the quality of human resources who truly understand the urgency of the maritime sector. Therefore, the role of academics and practitioners is key to executing the vision.

“In fact, Indonesia has not yet established an institutional body to support massive maritime development. In fact, to create capable human resources, appropriate education is very necessary to support the abilities of young people, both technically and academically,” he said.

Apart from that, Riant explained that the country needs to have a centralized institutional body that is fully responsible for designing concepts, strategies, and detailed execution of the systems and policies that will be implemented.

“So that a system that has not been systematic so far can be overhauled into an effective strategy,” he stressed.

If all fundamentals are connected, Riant said, it will not be impossible for Indonesia to become the world’s maritime axis.

However, what needs to be underlined is the need to make the maritime sector the axis of national life.

“Don’t forget the challenges and obstacles that exist internally,” explained Riant.

“With synergy and harmonious energy, Indonesia will soon be within reach of the world’s maritime axis. Slowly but surely, gradually this hope will no longer be just a vision and manifestation, but a realization,” he concluded.