REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- The government of Indonesia, through the Coordinating Ministry of Maritime Affairs, held the second Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) Blue Economy Ministerial Conference (BEC II) in Jakarta from May 8 to 10, 2017, to discuss the implementation of the blue economic concept.

The ministerial meeting of IORA member countries and IORA Dialogue Partners is a follow up of the IORA Summit held in Jakarta in March.

"The meeting is expected to urge IORA member countries to jointly work in implementing the blue economy. This meeting should not just conclude by exchanging views on blue economy," deputy minister at the Coordinating Ministry of Maritime Affairs Arif Havas Oegroseno said here on Monday.

The meeting will be held in three sessions, namely working session, senior official meeting, and ministerial meeting, Havas noted.

Five issues to be discussed include fisheries and aquaculture, inter-port cooperation, customs cooperation, maritime tourism, and marine plastic wastes.

Havas remarked that the main purpose of the event was to strengthen the influence of the Indonesian diplomacy in the countries of the Indian Ocean region.

"The Indian Ocean stretches from Africa, Asia to Europe. The Indian Ocean has an economic potential, but no organization can manage this potential properly," he remarked.

Moreover, he noted that the economic imbalance has occurred among member countries due to low economic growth and conflict.

"With its influence, Indonesia can play a bigger role to help realize the political stability and security through various forms of cooperation," he concluded.

Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan is scheduled to open the second IORA Blue Economy Ministerial Conference (BEC II) on Wednesday (10/5).

The forum will be attended by Secretary General of IORA K.V. Bhagirath, Director General for Asia, the Pacific and Africa (Aspasaf) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Rachmat Budiman, as well as ministers from IORA member countries and IORA spokespersons in Jakarta.

The IORA is an international organization composed of countries in the Indian Ocean region and was established in 1997.

There are 21 IORA member countries, namely Australia, Comorros, Indonesia, Somalia, Kenya, Malaysia, Mozambique, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Yemen, Bangladesh, India, Seychelles, Iran, Madagascar, Mauritius, Oman, South Africa, Tanzania, and the United Arab Emirates, while IORA-Speaking Partners include China, France, Japan, United States, Egypt, Germany, and United Kingdom.

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