Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi and her Norwegian counterpart Ine Marie Eriksen Soreide will sign the Letter of Intent to that effect on the sidelines of the Our Ocean Conference (OOC) in Nusa Dua, Bali, on Monday.
The agreement to increase maritime affairs and fisheries cooperation was reached at an Indonesia and Norwegian Joint Commission Session here on Monday.
"I want to convey some information, the first being about our agreement to continue cooperation on maritime affairs and fisheries," Norwegian Foreign Minister Soreide noted.
During the Indonesia-Norway Joint Commission Session, the two foreign ministers focused on discussing maritime and fisheries cooperation, particularly in combating illegal fishing. They also focused on building a sustainable marine economy.
Foreign Minister Soreide was also present during the OOC 2018 activities to prepare Norway to host the 2019 OOC.
"We will also host the OOC next year. We are inspired and will learn from Indonesia`s experience to host the OOC," she stated.
"There is no coincidence that we (Indonesia and Norway) hold a meeting on the sidelines of this conference (OOC). Norway also has a very large delegation at this conference, including the minister of fisheries," she noted.
Foreign Minister Soreide remarked that the Norwegian government paid great attention to maritime issues. She said that two-thirds of Norway`s export commodities came from marine and coastal activities.
"Hence, for Norway and Indonesia, the sea is a life. Hence, we work together in responding to various issues related to marine affairs," she affirmed.
The OOC was earlier held for the first time in Washington, the United States, in 2014. Furthermore, the OOC was held in Chile in 2015, in Washington in 2016, and in Malta in 2017.
The OOC 2018 event at the Bali Nusa Dua Convention Center on October 29-30, 2018, is an important event for the Indonesian government.
Indonesia is believed to be the first country in Asia to hold this fifth OOC. This demonstrates that Indonesia is viewed as being capable of fighting for the issue of sovereignty and the right of the sea, both through maritime diplomacy and domestic policy.
By hosting the OOC 2018, Indonesia will demonstrate leadership in the field of maritime affairs and fisheries, especially in dealing with threats to the Indonesian sea.
Reporting by Yuni Arisandy
(T.A014/A/KR-BSR/F001) 29-10-2018 11:25:05
Reporter: Antara
Editor: Andi Abdussalam
Copyright © ANTARA 2018
