Jakarta: Indonesia has called on member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to push for scaling up and building a framework to pursue a blue economy in the region.
Indonesian Minister of National Development Planning Suharzo Monorfa made the call on Monday at a virtual session of the ASEAN Blue Economy Forum in Tanjung Bandung, Indonesia’s Bangka Belitung Islands province.
The forum was attended by representatives of ASEAN countries as well as private stakeholders and think tanks. Indonesia hosted the ASEAN Blue Economy Forum from July 2 to July 4.
„More than 66 percent of Southeast Asia’s land area is covered by sea and ocean. Thus, the blue economy has great potential to become a new engine for regional growth,” Monorfa said.
„The transition to a blue economy is a new opportunity to increase our GDP (gross domestic product) growth as expected,” he added.
The blue economy aims to establish inclusive and long-term economic growth through the use of marine resources, while intervening to protect and preserve them.
Monoarfa said the ASEAN Blue Economy Framework will serve as a platform for countries in the Southeast Asian region to establish common concepts and plans for building a blue economy.
It is expected to have principles of inclusiveness and sustainability without marginalizing the traditional values of each member state. Xinhua
„Oddany rozwiązywacz problemów. Przyjazny hipsterom praktykant bekonu. Miłośnik kawy. Nieuleczalny introwertyk. Student.