Jakarta- Indonesia and the United Kingdom agreed on cooperation within the framework of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on sustainable shipping and ship building.

The MoU was signed by Transportation Ministry’s Sea Transportation Director General Arif Toha Tjahjagama and British Ambassador to Indonesia and Timor Leste Owen Jenkis here, Thursday.

“This is the initial step for the two countries to improve cooperation in the ferry and sea transportation sector,” Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi noted through a statement, Thursday.

“I encourage PT ASDP and PT Pelni to take the opportunity to explore the follow up to this MoU,” he affirmed.

Follow-up actions to the MoU include routine meeting between two parties to discuss and monitor the progress in implementation of the MoU on sustainable shipping and ship building.

They also involve an intergovernmental approach to the design, construction, financing, and operation of new types of ships and shipping to serve remote and underdeveloped islands.

Subsequently, the two parties agree to facilitate steps to develop a new type of ro-ro ship (RoPax) that can be operated in Indonesia.

The facilitation effort encompasses ship procurement, technology transfer, and provision of training as well as consultation.

“We expect that this cooperation commitment can be implemented in a concrete manner in the development of transportation in Indonesia and improve the relationship that has been well established between the two countries,” Sumadi remarked.

Meanwhile, United Kingdom’s Minister for Exports Andrew Bowie welcomes the agreement in the shipping sector between both nations.

In addition to the signing of the agreement on sustainable commercial shipping and ship building cooperation, the two parties also continue the discussion on development cooperation in the railway sector.

England is the host to maritime and railway experts. As a result, several companies in England have expressed interest in providing more support to the infrastructure development plan in Indonesia, he noted.

Bowie said he awaits the opportunity to support this collaboration further.

Several cooperation commitments in the transportation sector were made between Indonesia and England, such as the future cities program cooperation to expedite low-carbon transition in several regions in Indonesia.

Source: Antara News