Inauguration of KIOTEC Ancol and Training on Marine Survey Equipment: A Strategic Step In Indonesia's Marine HR Capacity Building 

Jakarta, 24 February 2025 — The governments of Indonesia and Korea, through the Korea-Indonesia Marine Technology Cooperation Research Center (MTCRC), are committed to increasing the capacity of human resources in the field of marine science and technology. 

One of the efforts is through an Official Development Assistance (ODA) project entitled “Establishment of the Integrated Ocean Fisheries Technology Training Center and Enhancing Capacity Building in Indonesia” or ODA KIOTEC. The project was authorized through the signing of an Implementation Arrangement by CMMAI, BPPSDMKP, Ministry of Ocean and Fisheries (MOF) of the Republic of Korea, Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology (KIOST), and MTCRC on June 12, 2024 in Busan, South Korea. The project, funded by MOF Korea, aims to establish and operate a training center and develop capacity-building programs that suit various topics and targets in Indonesia.

Inauguration of KIOTEC Training Center

The first KIOTEC Training Center has been established at the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) Building, Ancol, North Jakarta. KIOTEC Ancol has two training rooms with a capacity of 20 and 24 people, a discussion room, and a storage room for equipment and servers. This facility will be used to support the organization of skills training, executive courses for marine policy makers, increasing the competence of educators, blue carbon technology, and various other marine issues.

The inauguration of KIOTEC Ancol took place on February 24, 2025, attended by Dr. PARK Hansan (ODA KIOTEC Project Manager), Mr. Dandy Satria Iswara (Deputy for Coordination of Maritime Resources, Coordinating Ministry for Food Affairs), Dr. I Nyoman Radiarta (Chairman of BPPSDMKP), Ms. Ivonne Radjawane, Ph.D (Director of Korea-Indonesia MTCRC), Dr. Safri Burhanuddin (MTCRC Advisory Board), Ms. Yayan Hikmayani (Head of Marine and Fisheries Extension Center, BPPSDMKP), and Ms. Aniza Suspita (National Economic Council). 

In his speech, Dr. PARK Hansan appreciated various parties who have supported the establishment of KIOTEC Ancol. “KIOTEC is not just a training facility, but also reflects the ongoing commitment of both countries in strengthening the capacity of human resources in the marine and fisheries sector,” he said. Mr. Dandy Satria emphasized that “Currently, Indonesia is focusing on food self-sufficiency based on the blue economy. We hope this project can support that focus”. Meanwhile, Mr. Nyoman expressed confidence that this initiative will help produce a skilled workforce that has the knowledge to contribute to Indonesia's marine and fisheries sector.

Marine Survey Equipment Training for Human Resources Capacity Building

The inauguration of KIOTEC Ancol was held in conjunction with the inauguration of Marine Survey Equipment Training (MSET) 2025, the first capacity-building program held at this facility. MSET 2025 took place on February 24-27, 2025, and was attended by 40 ODA KIOTEC Master's scholarship beneficiaries who are continuing their studies at ITB, UGM, IPB, UNDIP, and UNPATTI.

This training equips participants with both theoretical knowledge and practical skills in using the Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) and Conductivity Temperature Depth (CTD) for various marine and fisheries applications. The program includes field practice in the waters of Ancol using the ARA 2 vessel, a grant from the Korean government, in the waters surrounding Ancol. The use of ADCP allows participants to understand ocean currents that play a role in the movement of water masses, maritime navigation, and sediment transport. Meanwhile, CTD data analysis helps in studying the characteristics of seawater such as temperature, salinity, and pH, which affect marine ecosystems. Understanding these two instruments is crucial for the management of marine resources and environmental monitoring. This method can be applied in various waters around Indonesia to support the protection of coastal ecosystems and the mitigation of climate change, which is one of the focuses of MTCRC.

With the inauguration of KIOTEC Ancol and the commencement of the MSET 2025 training program, this training center is expected to become a hub for developing human resource capacity in marine science and technology. The cooperation commitment between Indonesia and Korea through the KIOTEC ODA project, alongside the roles of KIOST and MTCRC as implementing institutions, will continue to support research, innovation, and the sustainability of the marine and fisheries sector in Indonesia.