lndonesia's Maritime Development ldeas, Challenges and Prospects for Policy lmprovement

• Main Author: I Gede Wahyu Wicaksana, -
• Format: Book Section PeerReviewed
• Language: English; English; English
• Published: Scitepress-Science and Technology Publications, Lda. All Rights Reserved 2017
• Subjects: JZ1464-2060 Scope of international relations with regard to countries, territories, regions, etc.
• Online Access: http://repository.unair.ac.id/102818/2/14A_Indonesia%E2%80%99s%20Maritime%20Development.pdf; http://repository.unair.ac.id/102818/1/14_HASIL%20PENIALAIAN%20PEER%20DAN%20KADEP.pdf; http://repository.unair.ac.id/102818/3/14T_Indonesia%E2%80%99s%20Maritime%20Development.pdf.pdf; http://repository.unair.ac.id/102818/
• Institution: Universitas Airlangga

This article explores the challenges and prospects of the implementation of the Indonesian government’s plan to develop the country’s maritime sector, particularly by constructing an integrated marine logistic system connecting major islands in the archipelagic country, called the tol laut. The argument is that, notwithstanding the fact that the tol laut is relevant for fostering regional economic development, it has to face challenges, including structural and cultural conditions. Hence, the policy must be framed in a way that is commensurate with the government’s modalities. The discussion is divided into three sections. Section 1 looks at the significance of Jokowi’s tol laut project for Indonesia’s economic advancement. The discussion is enriched by discerning the position of the tol laut against the wider backdrop of the social, political, and strategic environments to understand the relationship between this planned maritime sector development and the state’s other crucial national interests. Section 2 investigates the challenges that may constrain the implementation of the tol laut. It casts some light on the fact that despite the idea of the tol laut receiving broad public endorsement, there are noticeable circumstances prompting the new government to considerably calculate its capacity; otherwise, the negative unanticipated impacts of current situations could adversely disrupt the project. Based on this investigation of the tol laut’s limits, section 3 seeks to offer feasible options to deal with the difficulties and to improve the prospect of realizing the proposals of the tol laut. The conclusion of this article situates important ideas regarding the tol laut in the context of their implications for Indonesia’s future development outlook and economic policy.