From Our Blog: Recently with the ICCF Group

Introduction to the White Paper on the Blue Economy

The House of Representatives of the Republic of Indonesia (DPR-RI), through the Committee for Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation (BKSAP) and the Oceans Caucus (Kaukus Kelautan) in the DPR-RI, in collaboration with ICCF Indonesia, convened a high-level meeting to discuss the development of a White Paper on the Blue Economy (WPBE).

The House of Representatives of the Republic of Indonesia (DPR-RI), through the Committee for Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation (BKSAP) and the Oceans Caucus (Kaukus Kelautan) in the DPR-RI, in collaboration with ICCF Indonesia, convened a high-level meeting to discuss the development of a White Paper on the Blue Economy (WPBE). The meeting brought together key stakeholders, including parliamentarians, and experts to explore how the WPBE can serve as a strategic framework for translating Indonesia’s Blue Economy vision into actionable legislative priorities. Discussions focused on legislative recommendations, innovative financing mechanisms, and strategic partnerships to ensure sustainable marine resource management and economic growth.

Key Highlights from the Meeting

The WPBE aims to provide a comprehensive framework for parliamentary action, ensuring that Indonesia’s Blue Economy roadmap is effectively implemented through legislative and oversight mechanisms.

Key points raised included:

• Hon. Mardani Ali Sera (Chairman of BKSAP) emphasized the importance of completing the WPBE within six months and ensuring its dissemination to key stakeholders, including government agencies like Bappenas and Kementerian Koordinator Bidang Perekonomian. He also stressed the need to involve NGOs and non-state actors in the process to ensure transparency and inclusivity.
• Hon. Ravindra Airlangga (Vice Chairman of BKSAP) noted that the WPBE can serve as a strategic input for the Expert Body (Badan Keahlian), which plays a critical role in supporting the legislative process. He emphasized that, as a strategic complementary body of DPR-RI, the Expert Body can disseminate the WPBE to all parliamentary commissions as an input for legislative drafting and amendments, ensuring that its recommendations are effectively incorporated into national policy frameworks.
• Hon. Galih Dimuntur Kartasasmita (Commission XI) highlighted the importance of aligning the WPBE with Indonesia’s national development plans. He suggested that the WPBE should serve as a bridge between the Blue Economy Roadmap and parliamentary actions, particularly in areas like fisheries management and marine conservation. Additionally, he emphasized the need to strengthen BKSAP’s role in ensuring that parliamentary efforts connect with international cooperation frameworks, particularly in advancing Indonesia’s leadership in Blue Diplomacy. This aspect is directly addressed in the WPBE, which outlines Indonesia’s regional and global engagement strategies to support marine conservation and sustainable economic growth.
• Hon. Prof. Rokhmin Dahuri (Commission IV) underscored the importance of addressing extreme conditions—both environmental and socio-economic—in the WPBE. He called for a clear definition of the Blue Economy and its sectors, as well as a baseline for measuring economic contributions.
• Hon. Trinovi Khairani Sitorus (Commission I) emphasized the need for concrete steps to ensure that the WPBE’s recommendations are effectively implemented at the local level, particularly for coastal communities.

The meeting highlighted the critical challenges facing Indonesia’s fisheries sector, particularly small-scale fisheries (SSF):

• Data Gaps: Prof. Yonvitner pointed out the lack of adequate data on SSF, which hinders effective policy-making. Improved data collection and transparency are essential for creating evidence-based policies.
• Economic Empowerment: Participants stressed the need to support SSF through innovative financing mechanisms, such as green banks, and by addressing issues like monopolies in fish feed production.
• Hilirisasi (Downstreaming): The importance of adding value to fisheries products through downstream processing was emphasized. This not only boosts economic returns but also creates jobs and reduces reliance on raw exports.

The meeting concluded with a call for collaboration among parliamentarians, government agencies, and stakeholders to ensure the successful implementation of Indonesia’s Blue Economy agenda.

Key next steps include:

• Finalizing the White Paper on the Blue Economy as a strategic framework for legislative action.
• Strengthening partnerships with stakeholders to secure potential funding and technical support.
• Enhancing data collection and transparency to inform evidence-based policies.
• As Indonesia moves forward with its Blue Economy goals, the role of parliamentarians in providing oversight, advocating for innovative policies, and fostering collaboration will be crucial. The outcomes of this meeting mark a significant step toward ensuring that Indonesia’s marine resources are managed sustainably for the benefit of current and future generations.