"Of course, we will forge cooperation by upholding the shared spirit in preserving the oceans," director general of marine spatial management at the KKP Ministry, Victor Gustaaf Manoppo, told ANTARA in Badung district, Bali, on Wednesday.
He said that Indonesia has yet to promote and optimize some of its marine tourism destinations due to several considerations, including the matter of balancing ecological values and economic benefits.
"We should initially assess whether the opening of a marine tourism destination will provide benefits to the ecosystem or not. Such an assessment is also necessary to ensure that a marine tourism destination generates an acceptable value of non-tax state revenue," he explained.
Earlier on Tuesday (October 10, 2023) in Bali, Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi held a bilateral meeting with Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Cabo Verde, Miryan Viera, on the sidelines of the 1st High-Level Meeting of the Archipelagic and Island States (AIS) Forum.
During the meeting, Minister Marsudi welcomed Viera's proposal for bilateral cooperation in the blue economy, infrastructure, and tourism sectors. Cabo Verde is prioritizing the three sectors.
The Indonesian FM also sought the West African country's support in pushing for the establishment of a preferential trade agreement between Indonesia and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
"With a total population of 280 million, Indonesia will become a potential trade partner for ECOWAS, while facilitating the economic community to enter the markets in ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations)," she said.
Indonesia has been expressing its keenness to forge a concrete trade agreement with ECOWAS since 2017.
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Translator: Sinta A, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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