JAKARTA – The Indonesian Blue Swimming Crab Association (APRI) held a high-level strategic meeting with the World Bank in Jakarta on Monday, June 29, 2026. The forum focused on mapping out potential growth, emerging opportunities, and critical constraints within Indonesia’s fisheries and marine sectors to support the ongoing analytical work on Blue Value Chains.

The intensive discussion brought together key stakeholders from across upstream and downstream industries. The primary objective was to identify major bottlenecks hindering competitiveness and resilience, while highlighting new private investment opportunities in the maritime economy.

Addressing Opportunities and Constraints in Indonesia’s Fisheries
The meeting deeply analyzed several pivotal sectors that serve as the economic backbone for Indonesia’s coastal communities:

Fisheries & Seaweed: High-value commodities such as blue swimming crab, tuna, and seaweed hold massive international market potential. However, long-term scalability heavily relies on robust regulations, catch quotas, and sustainable practices.

Logistics & Cold Chain: As an archipelagic nation, Indonesia’s greatest hurdle remains logistical efficiency. Transporting goods from the rich waters of Eastern Indonesia to processing hubs or export ports faces high costs and infrastructure gaps.

Processing & Market Systems: Upgrading quality standards at processing facilities is vital to consistently meet the strict import regulations of markets like the US, EU, and Japan.

Private Investment: Creating a transparent and secure investment climate is essential to attract domestic and foreign capital, which will drive the modernization of fishing fleets and eco-friendly processing technologies.

Key Takeaway: The discussions will directly help identify the critical bottlenecks affecting industry competitiveness and resilience, while informing ongoing global analytical work to unlock sustainable marine financing.

Cross-Sector Synergy: Connecting Global Expertise with Local Leaders
This collaborative effort highlights the importance of a multi-stakeholder approach to accelerating Indonesia’s blue economy. The insights gathered from this session will serve as foundational data for the World Bank to tailor its future development and analytical programs in Indonesia.

The event concluded with a photo session featuring prominent figures representing Indonesia’s fisheries leadership alongside international experts.

Key Delegates in Attendance

From Right to Left:

Robert Tjoanda (Business Representative / Brother of Shery Tjoanda, Governor of North Maluku)

Wita Setioko (Director of PT Bumi Menara Internusa – PT BMI)

Saut Hutagalung (Chairman of the Indonesian Tuna Longline Association – ASTUIN)

Meerin (World Bank Representative)

Yanti Djuari (Chairperson of the Indonesian Pole & Line and Handline Tuna Association – AP2HI)

Kuncoro CN (Chairman of the Indonesian Blue Swimming Crab Association – APRI)

Edward (World Bank Representative)

[Representative] (World Bank Representative)

Sarli Azis (Chairman of the Indonesian Seaweed Association)

Moving Toward a Resilient Marine Economy
Through this joint dialogue, APRI, along with partner associations (AP2HI, ASTUIN, and the Seaweed Association), reaffirmed their commitment to aligning local operations with global market demands. The analytical and strategic backing of the World Bank is expected to bridge funding gaps and accelerate technological adoption—ensuring Indonesian seafood excels not just in volume, but in value and ecological sustainability.