Strengthening Our Maritime Cooperation: Bilateral Maritime Forum 2022 in the Netherlands - Indonesia
Strengthening Our Maritime Cooperation: Bilateral Maritime Forum 2022 in the Netherlands
The fourth Bilateral Maritime Forum (BMF) was successfully organized in the Netherlands earlier this month. The Dutch Minister for Infrastructure and Water Management H.E. Mark Harbers met the Indonesian Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment H.E. Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan. The ministers discussed the ongoing collaboration on maritime affairs, such as port development, and broader partnership opportunities - for instance in renewable energy. Together, the Ministers celebrated the extension of the MOU Maritime between our two countries, and formally opened the fourth BMF.
Taking place at Louwman Museum in The Hague, the BMF kicked off on the 1st of June, led by Deputy Coordinating Minister for Maritime Sovereignty and Energy, Mr. Basilio Dias Araujo and Deputy Director for Maritime Affairs, Mr. Adriaan Zeillemaker.
The Indonesian Government delegation consisted of the leaders and representatives of the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Investment, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Transport, Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Ministry of National Development Planning/BAPPENAS, and the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in the Hague.
The BMF was organized in close collaboration with the Dutch and Indonesian private sectors, attended by the delegation of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KADIN). KADIN’s delegation at BMF was led by Chairman Mr. Arsjad Rasjid, and co-chaired by the Chairwoman of the Indonesian National Shipowners Association (INSA), Ms. Carmelita Hartoto. Complementing on the Dutch side were the representatives of Dutch companies from various sectors. Both countries agreed to follow up on cooperation in numerous fields, incl. on energy transition in port development, shipbuilding investments and capacity building.
Site visits to ports and shipyards were organized in the days afterwards. On the 2nd and 3rd of June, the delegation visited Port of Scheveningen, Port of Rotterdam, Damen Shipyards, Royal IHC, and Hydromaster. We had interactive discussions on diverse areas and exchanged insights and knowledge about renewable energy, fisheries, and the smart & sustainable maritime sector, essentially exploring partnership opportunities between both countries.
In the addition to the above activities on BMF, the Coordinating Minister Luhut B. Pandjaitan met a number of Dutch companies in a roundtable organized by the Confederation of Netherlands Industry and Employers (VNO-NCW) led by President Ingrid Thijssen, among others to discuss opportunities in economic developments and investments, port developments and logistics, energy transition, as well as the new capital city of Indonesia.