Indonesia-Netherlands Advance Maritime Cooperation at Bilateral Forum

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesia and the Netherlands have stepped up maritime cooperation at a time of heightened geopolitical uncertainty, using their latest bilateral forum to push forward collaboration on green shipping, port development and maritime security.

Indonesian Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Arif Havas Oegroseno led the 6th Indonesia-Netherlands Bilateral Maritime Forum held in The Hague, the Netherlands, from February 10-12, 2026, together with the Director General for Aviation and Maritime Affairs at the Dutch Infrastructure Ministry.

The meeting was also attended by representatives from relevant Indonesian ministries and agencies, state-owned enterprises Pelindo and Pertamina International Shipping, the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KADIN), shipping and port associations, and private sector stakeholders.

The forum took place amid global geopolitical shifts that are affecting maritime trade and supply chains. In a separate bilateral meeting with Dutch Minister of Infrastructure and Water Management, Robert Tieman, the deputy minister discussed global challenges and ways to further strengthen maritime ties between the two seafaring nations.

“As the world’s largest archipelagic state, Indonesia is highly dependent on the maritime sector for connectivity, security and economic growth,” he said, as quoted on the Foreign Affairs Ministry official website, underscoring the strategic importance of the forum for both countries.

He also noted that the conclusion of negotiations on the Indonesia-European Union Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (I-EU CEPA) creates new momentum by expanding Indonesia’s access to European markets and reinforcing the Netherlands’ position as a key maritime gateway for Indonesian exports.

The forum featured three parallel working groups focusing on sustainable port development, green shipping and maritime security.

Discussions covered the environmental impact of port expansion, the economic contribution of the maritime sector to local communities, data collection and protection for maritime security, the use of green technologies and the potential of carbon credits to help achieve net-zero emissions.

“We must see green shipping as an opportunity, not a burden. This is where we need to increase our bargaining power through carbon trading mechanisms. Currently, our port industry has been able to reduce around 31,000 tons of CO2. This is a strategic step toward Indonesia’s net-zero emission target,” he explained.

The forum concluded with agreements to follow up on identifying scalable joint projects, preparing pilot initiatives, exploring investment opportunities in the fisheries sector and developing financing schemes for shipbuilding. ***