Wahyu Dwi Anggoro
IDXChannel - Indonesian National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas) has invited ASEAN member countries to optimize blue economy. The sector is expected to be able to boost economic growth in the region.
Deputy for Economic Affairs at Bappenas, Amalia Adininggar Widyasanti stated that blue economy is one of the potentials that ASEAN member countries can utilize together. She noted that currently ASEAN's economic growth is on a downward trend so the region needs a new growth driver.
“We then need a new engine of economic growth. We need high economic growth but in a sustainable and inclusive way,” she said.
Moreover, most ASEAN member countries seeks to advance from being lower middle income nations to becoming upper middle income countries. Hence, she assessed that it is crucial to develop the blue economy considering the vast Marine resource potentials.
“Blue economy is actually one of the potentials that we can utilize together,” she stated.
