A Maritime Partnership as a Key to the Future for Indonesia and Danish

Since 2015, precisely on October 22, Indonesia has signed five Memorandum
of Understanding (MoU) with Danish in the field of maritime, transport and renewable
and clean energy. (State, n.d.) This cooperation is conducted in line with a state visit
by the Queen of Danish, Queen Margrethe II and Prince Consort Henrik to
Indonesia. Since Indonesia take an advantage of its strategic position as a
geopolitical and call themselves as a global maritime fulcrum, various countries
offered cooperation in the maritime field, such as Danish. Many countries are
interested to invest in Indonesia, especially recently Indonesia's economic growth
was relatively better because of various policies in the field of economy issued by the
government of Indonesia, such as the Economic Policy Package Volume II which
facilitate the entry of foreign investment into Indonesia through investment
deregulation.
So, what steps can be taken to the cooperation between Indonesia and
Danish to become symbiotic mutualism and benefit both parties?
First of all, Indonesia should take advantage of opportunities presented by
Danish through investment cooperation either government to government (G to G),
business-to-government (B to G) and business to business (B to B). By means of
good cooperation between Indonesia and Danish, Indonesia is also balancing
investor list with other countries such as China. Danish, recognized by Vily Sovndal
(Minister of Foreign Affairs of Danish), was impressed with the development in
Indonesia, democracy, economic growth, political stability, and security. (Renewal,
2013) In addition to the various MOUs have been signed, in the field of trade, Danish
has launched a vision Developing Countries Market Strategy for Indonesia (20132016), which is forms of Danish's commitment in looking at Indonesia as a strategic
trading partner in Asia.
The arrival of the Queen and the Prince of Danish along with his Foreign
Minister should be taken seriously by the government of Indonesia and become a
momentum on maritime cooperation in both countries. There are at least 63
companies from Danish who intend to become potential investors in Indonesia and
comes along with the state visit of the head of the State Danish. Indonesia should
create a healthy business climate and investment so Danish-based company may
invest as much as possible. However, the important thing is how the government
should be able to balance incoming foreign direct investment with domestic
economic activities. Do not get by the withdrawal of massive investments will harm
domestic firms who also engaged in the maritime field. But good government should
strive to create a climate of competitive rivalry for the advancement of maritime in
Indonesia.
Secondly, Danish as a maritime country that contains over 400 islets, can
take advantage of Indonesia as a place to invest because of its geopolitical state that
also promote maritime as well as Danish. Moreover, Danish considers Indonesia as
an important player in the region and a great country with great potential. Economic

policy package issued by the government of Indonesia, should be used by Danish to

gain leverage in investing in Indonesia.
Coupled also, with the policy of the Indonesian government to establish a
Special Economic Zone (SEZ) carried out to make the environment conducive for
investment activity, export, and trade to boost economic growth as well as a catalyst
of economic reforms. Therefore, when the Danish government did want seeking
cooperation more serious, especially in the maritime sector, the policies issued by
the government of Indonesia should be used by Danish well in order to create
cooperation that is beneficial to both parties.
In fact, Danish expressed a desire to support and participate in port
infrastructure development investment in Sabang (Aceh province) and Tanjung Priok
in the framework of the Special Economic Zone (SEZ). This investment is carried out
as a concrete step to improve the connectivity of interest Danish maritime and fishing
industry. There are two points why Danish wants to invest in the maritime sector with
Indonesia, first, investment in ports because of adequate port facilities required for a
great traffic to the delivery of goods or commodities. Secondly, Danish has a number
of companies who enter the ranks of the largest in the world in the field of shipping,
shipyard and containers. These companies will help Indonesia to actualize their
ambition to connect all islands in Indonesia, especially in the five major islands.
Finally, on the other hand Danish and Indonesia also have to use the prospect
of another such cooperation in the defense field. Indonesian Defense Minister's visit
to Danish became one proof of the seriousness of the Indonesian government in
establishing a Maritime Security cooperation. In this meeting discussed the agenda
is the eradication of piracy and drug trafficking, as well as the desire of both Defense
Minister of State Indonesia and Danish to establish good relations and enhancing
cooperation both States Navy. One of them is through the exploratory warship
procurement cooperation. At the same time representatives of the Danish defense
industry executives, Odense Maritime Technology, Terma, and Weibel Scientific,
discussed with Minister Ryamizard and talk about how to strengthen the relationship
between Indonesia and Danish defense industry in order to increase trade and
investment between the two countries. (Indonesia, 2016) In addition, many important
aspects related to defense in the maritime field as territorial security and the
eradication of illegal fishing should also be utilized both sides in establishing a
research agreement in the maritime field.
Therefore, this cooperation opportunities should be utilized by both sides.
Geopolitics by both countries which similar but not the same, is the first step in the
exploratory of this maritime cooperation. Finally, I hope that the government of
Indonesian take serious steps to bring this cooperation in a variety of
implementations. This is important so that Indonesia as the world's maritime fulcrum
can be actualized.