Foreign Minister Dr. A. K. Abdul Momen, MP held a meeting with Indonesian Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries H.E. Sakti Wahyu Trenggono in Jakarta on 06 September 2023. Minister Trenggono briefed Dr. Momen and his delegation on blue economy policy, challenges and target of his country. Both Ministers engaged in a comprehensive discussion on various aspects of existing and prospective cooperation between Bangladesh and Indonesia including in the field of blue economy. 

 

 

Dr. Momen informed Indonesian Minister of Bangladesh’s remarkable socioeconomic progress across the board including in food security. He mentioned that Bangladesh was ranked third globally in fresh-water fishing and that it was possible due to policy intervention to the right direction. He sought Indonesia’s help in capacity building in the extraction of marine resources – an area that has remained mostly untapped in Bangladesh despite its enormous potential. 

 

 

Minister Trenggono assured Dr. Momen of extending all out support and cooperation in reaping maximum mutual benefit from blue economy including through joint cooperation in the field of marine science and marine biotechnology. Both Ministers emphasized on sharing technology and technical know-how on marine culture, deep-sea fishing, long-line fishing and seaweed culture etc. They agreed to initiate exchange programs to share expertise and best practices in cultivating Sea Bass and fishing Tuna. 

 

 

Indonesia assured Bangladesh of assistance in combating traditional and non-traditional safety and security challenges in Bangladesh’s maritime jurisdiction such as unlawful exploitation of marine resources, piracy and polluting the marine environment. Both Ministers recognized that illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (IUU) was one of the several factors that has serious consequences, not only on a country’s economy, but also on the marine ecosystems of a region. They underscored the need for joint collaboration to prevent maritime crimes and pollution and to enhance disaster response utilizing modern technology. Dr. Momen sought Indonesia’s help in acquiring advanced technological features such as realtime vessel tracking system through satellite. 

 

 

Rear Admiral (Retd.) Md. Khurshed Alam, BN, Secretary, Maritime Affairs Unit, and Md. Emdadul Islam Chowdhury, Director General (United Nations) of MoFA joined the Foreign Minister while Indonesian Ambassador to Bangladesh H.E. Heru H. Subolo accompanied Minister Trenggono among other senior officials on both sides.