Transfer of Coastal Survey, Marine Debris, and Plant Survey Technologies to Indonesia... Momentum for New Southern Policy Cooperation

Target area for the basic marine and coastal survey and capacity building project in Cirebon, Indonesia.

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Joo Sang-don] The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries announced on the 4th that it will commence the second-year project of 'Basic Marine and Coastal Survey and Capacity Building in Cirebon, Indonesia,' which transfers South Korea's marine science and technology to Indonesia as part of Official Development Assistance (ODA).

The northern region of Java Island, which includes Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia, and the coastal city of Cirebon, is one of the areas where sea level rise due to climate change is occurring at the fastest rate in the world. In particular, nearly half of Jakarta's urban area lies below sea level, and Indonesia is pushing for the relocation of its capital due to severe coastal erosion.

In response, the Indonesian government requested the South Korean government to transfer marine survey technology to reduce coastal damage caused by sea level rise. Accordingly, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and the Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology have been conducting the 'Basic Marine and Coastal Survey and Capacity Building Project in Cirebon, Indonesia (2019?2022)' with a total budget of 5 billion KRW since last year. Last year, research equipment such as survey practice boats and depth measurement devices were provided to Indonesia, and education and training programs on basic marine surveys were operated.

Through this project, practical field surveys on depth, coastal topography, and ecosystems in the Cirebon sea area will be conducted, and a basic marine and coastal survey map book will be produced. The marine basic survey data secured for the northern Java region is expected to play a key role in identifying the causes of erosion in Indonesia and deriving countermeasures. At the same time, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries expects that it can also be used for research on coastal erosion cases and types in South Korea. Additionally, the 'Korea-Indonesia Marine Experts Training Program' will be operated to train a total of 70 master's-level marine survey and analysis experts by 2022.

Besides this, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries has been conducting an ODA project since last year to transfer policies and management know-how on marine plastic waste. Furthermore, through the 'Korea-Indonesia Marine Science and Technology Joint Research Center' established in Cirebon in 2018, joint research topics related to marine energy development such as tidal power and ocean thermal energy conversion are being pursued, strengthening marine science and technology cooperation with Indonesia, a key country in the New Southern Policy.

Seo Jeong-ho, Director General of International Cooperation at the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, said, "We hope that our advanced marine survey technology will help solve problems such as coastal erosion and land subsidence faced by Indonesia," and added, "We expect that this project will further accelerate the implementation of the New Southern Policy with ASEAN countries including Indonesia."