Press Release

Nusa Dua, 9 January 2023 — After successfully conducting the first seminar on June 20 2022, the second Korean-Indonesian Blue Carbon Expert Seminar was held on Monday, 9th January 2023 at the Merusaka Hotel, Nusa Dua, Bali. 

Referring to the bilateral meeting between the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF) of the Republic of Korea and the Indonesian Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Investment (CMMAI) of the Republic of Indonesia on 13 October 2021, the two countries agreed to increase and develop International Blue Carbon cooperation activities. This collaboration will later be realized in the form of the Official Development Assistance (ODA) Project which is planned to begin in 2024. This seminar is being carried out by the Korea-Indonesia Marine Technology Cooperation Research Center (MTCRC), Seoul National University (SNU) and Kunsan National University (KNU) ), on behalf of MOF, Republic of Korea and CMMAI Republic of Indonesia.

Korea-Indonesia MTCRC is an intergovernmental joint research center in the field of Marine Science and Technology between Korea represented by KIOST on behalf of MOF (Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries) and Indonesia that represented by ITB and CMMAI (Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Investment) which aims to strengthen and promote practical cooperation in marine science and technology between the two countries.

This second seminar invited speakers and moderators from the two countries (Korea-Indonesia), including the CMMAI, the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN),  Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology (KIOST), Pukyong National University (PKNU), Pusan National University (PNU), Gadjah Mada University (UGM), Pattimura University (UNPATTI), Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) and Hasanuddin University (UNHAS). The seminar began with remarks from Kus Prisetiahadi, Ph.D, as Assistant Deputy for Climate Change and Disaster Management as a representative from Deputy for Coordination of Environment and Forestry Management, Shin Jae Young as Director of Marine Ecology Division MOF, Firman Trisasongko as Policy Analysis Expert on Assistant Deputy for Maritime Resources Downstreaming as a representative for the Deputy for Maritime Resources Coordination, Prof. Kim Jong-Seong as The Blue carbon Project Group and Dr. Park Hansan as Director of Korea-Indonesia MTCRC.

Indonesia has enormous Blue Carbon potential, reaching 3.4 Giga Tonnes (GT) or around 17% of the world's blue carbon. "CMMAI and MOF Korea have held several meetings to follow up on the cooperation between the two countries in the maritime field, including this seminar which is a follow-up to the Korea-Indonesia blue carbon cooperation," Pak Kus said in his speech through video recording. Blue carbon ecosystem enlargement, technical support, and capacity building, particularly in marine and coastal areas are necessary to maintain natural resources in a sustainable way. "I hope that this ODA project will later become one of the platforms for implementing concrete actionable plans, against the climate change issue and can strengthen cooperation between Korea and Indonesia, especially in the maritime field," said Mr. Firman Trisasongko

This seminar is a forum for experts in the field of Blue Carbon from the two countries to discuss, exchange knowledge and experiences as well as ideas which will later be discussed and become the basis for designing Blue Carbon projects in Indonesia through the Official Development Assistance (ODA) scheme. "This cooperation will not only benefit Indonesia and Korea, but is also a kind of effort that provides benefits globally and MTCRC as the intergovernmental research organization, we hope to play a big role in contributing to the success of cooperation in this field," said Dr. Hansan Park in his speech.

The seminar agenda consists of a total 13 presentations with 4 sessions and 1 comprehensive discussion session, led by experts in each session. The first session discussed "Korea-Indonesia Blue Carbon Research" guided by Ivonne M. Radjawane Ph.D. as Director of the Korea-Indonesia MTCRC which was filled by speakers Lee Jong Min (Blue Carbon Project Researcher, SNU), Yaya Ihya Ulumuddin, Ph.D (BRIN) and Andreas A. Hutahaean, Ph.D (Kemenkomarves). The second session discussed "Blue Carbon-Mangrove Research" guided by Frida Sidik Ph.D as a researcher from BRIN which was filled in by speakers Imam Mudita (BRIN), LEE Seung-kuk (PKNU), Virni Budi Arifanti (BRIN). The third session discussed "Research on Blue-Seagrass Carbon" guided by Prof. Kwon Bong-oh (KNU) which was filled in by Prof. Rohani Ambo-Rappe (UNHAS), KIM Won-kuk (PNU), Pramaditya Wicaksono (UGM) , Charlotha I. Tupan (UNPATTI). The fourth session discussed "Blue Carbon Opportunities" hosted by LEE Chang Keun as Blue Carbon Project Researcher, SNU which was filled by speakers YOON Seo Joon (SNU), Tri Handayani (BRIN), and Aditya Rakhmat Kartadikaria (ITB).