On December 16, during the Japan-Indonesia Summit Meeting held in Tokyo, in the presence of H.E. Mr. KISHIDA Fumio, Prime Minister of Japan, and H.E. Mr. Joko Widodo, President of the Republic of Indonesia, the exchange of notes ceremony was held between H.E. Ms. KAMIKAWA Yoko, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, and H.E. Ms. Retno. L.P. Marsudi, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, concerning Grant Aid “The Project for Enhancement of Ability in Maritime Safety and Security” for the provision of a large patrol vessel for Indonesian Coast Guard (BAKAMLA) up to 9.053 billion Japanese Yen.
Indonesia has a vast Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), the third largest in the world, and is located on important maritime transportation routes such as the Malacca-Singapore Strait, which is vital from the perspective of Japan’s international logistics. Illegal fishing, smuggling, and natural disasters are frequent in Indonesia’s waters, but Indonesian maritime-related agencies do not have the capacity to adequately cover such a vast sea area with their existing patrol vessels and facilities.
Against this background, the Government of Indonesia established BAKAMLA in 2014 and has been strengthening BAKAMLA’s facilities and organization in order to improve its capacity to supervise and coordinate domestic maritime-related agencies. The agency is not part or associated with the Indonesian National Armed Forces, although its top-ranking leadership are handpicked from the Indonesian Navy. Bakamla and the Indonesian Navy, however, often conduct exercises and joint-operation together. While during search-and-rescue operations, Bakamla also conduct joint-operations with the National Search and Rescue Agency (BASARNAS).
This Project is to provide BAKAMLA with one large patrol vessel to be built by Japanese shipyard. This is expected to strengthen the maritime law enforcement capability of BAKAMLA, thereby contributing to the improvement of BAKAMLA’s ability to respond to the challenges of the Asian region and the international community through the enhancement of maritime safety in Indonesia. On 12 January 2017, the Philippines and Japan also signed the Memorandum of Cooperation, which granted patrol vessel and supported strengthening of maritime law enforcement capabilities.
