Prime Minister announces space partnerships with Southeast Asia
UK Space Agency
First published:28 July 2015
UK space technology to tackle world’s $20 billion illegal fishing trade. UK and Indonesian Space Agencies increase collaboration.
The UK’s expertise in space technology and applications could soon be used to help combat illegal fishing, and the Indonesian government to harness space technology for important services such as disaster management and land use monitoring.
The new partnerships were announced today (27 July 2015) by the Prime Minister during his visit to Southeast Asia.
Tasking satellites in the fight against illegal fishing
The UK Space Agency is funding a project between Spire UK and Singapore’s Institute for Infocomm Research (I2R) to develop and test a novel product that will allow fishing authorities, NGO’s and coastal guards to easily detect and track illegal fishing – a common problem in developing nations, posing a real threat to ecosystems and coastal economies. The project worth £1.6 million could grow into a constellation of up to 50 nanosatellites that would be built in Glasgow.
Through this initial collaboration, it is hoped that this work can be taken forward with other countries in the region, such as Indonesia.
Illegal fishing results in over $20 billion of lost revenues annually, predominantly for developing nations. In areas where overfishing and illegal fishing are most prevalent, over 3 billion people depend on fish as their primary source of protein. Monitoring small vessels such as fishing boats via conventional monitoring systems is challenging due to cost and potential manipulation by ship operators. Governments have started turning to Automatic Identification System (AIS) - a ship-to-ship and ship-to-shore system used as an aid for collision avoidance and vessel traffic management - but that system still requires technological improvement.
The new project, funded through the UK Space Agency’s International Partnerships in Space Programme, will be based on AIS and will include a novel system based on dual antennas, dual receivers, and advanced signal analytics on nano-satellites.
Increased collaboration
The UK Space Agency’s MoU with the Indonesian Space Agency (LAPAN) will see the UK and Indonesia increase collaboration in civil space activities such as Earth observation. It will also position UK companies, such as SSTL which is already working with Indonesia, as potential providers of space technology beneficial to the Indonesian Government.
As part of the World’s largest archipelago, Indonesia has many needs for the monitoring services that can be supplied by satellites, particularly in the areas of maritime, land use and disaster management. Additionally, Indonesia is looking to develop its own remote sensing capability – an invaluable tool in areas such as the monitoring of fishing vessels and crop growth.
The MoU will also see the UK share expertise and help Indonesia develop training in areas such as infrastructure building and data interpretation. The first UK-Indonesia workshop was held directly after the MoU signing and included a host of UK companies that shared their knowledge in the uses of satellites for maritime monitoring.
Prime Minister announces space partnerships with Southeast Asia - News stories - GOV.UK
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British PM David Cameron kick starts South East Asia tour with Indonesia: talks trade and ISIS threat
By
Kalyan Kumar @diplomatist10 on July 29 2015 10:06 AM
IN PHOTO: British Prime Minister David Cameron addresses a joint session of the Australian Parliament in Canberra November 14, 2014. Reuters/Stringer
British Prime Minister David Cameron’s four-day trade mission to South-East Asia has started with Indonesia, the region’s biggest economy. Intended to spur lucrative business deals and forge political alliances to fight extremism posed by forces like Islamic state, Mr Cameron’s tour will cover Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam and Singapore. The prime minister’s entourage has lined up 31 British business leaders.
The PM offered a big loan of 1 billion pounds (AUD 2.8 billion) to Indonesia for fast tracking many of its ongoing projects. This will help Indonesia in expanding its exports to Britain by 200 million pounds (AUD426 million), reports
ABC News. The PM noted that are many opportunities to work together, particularly in areas like insurance, infrastructure and internet services. Expectation is that the British PM’s South-East Asia trip will have deals worth more than 750 million pounds or AUD 1.5 billion. “There's a great opportunity for a free trade agreement but we shouldn't wait for that," Cameron told media before he met the Indonesian President.
In his meeting with president Joko Widodo, Mr Cameron discussed Britain’s focus on expanding links with the rest of the world, beyond Europe. Another point was the measures to counter the "shared enemy" of Islamic State and its extremism.
ISIS Threat
Speaking at the presidential palace in Jakarta, Mr Cameron said ISIS posed an "evil threat" and the U.K. would "seek to learn" from Indonesia its approach in countering extremism through exchange programs between religious and community leaders to foster a better understanding of how it works. Britain also offered to train 50 police officers from Indonesia in counter-terrorism tactics. The visiting PM also promised Indonesia, the support for increasing airport security at Bali and Jakarta, reports BBC.
FTA Plan
During the trip,
Mr Cameron will also explore the scope of a free trade deal between the European Union and South East Asian trading bloc, ASEAN. The U.K. hopes to draw £3 billion (AUD 6.4 billion) a year to the British economy from a trade deal. Mr Cameron has already stated that he has plans to meet the group's secretary general, Le Luong Minh. Though the EU remains Britain's biggest trading partner, Mr Cameron is keen to diversify trade beyond Europe, where he has frustration with the former's dipping competitiveness and overdose of regulations. It is expected that by 2030, South East Asia will become world’s fourth-largest single market.
(For feedback/comments, contact the writer at feedback@ibtimes.com.au)
British PM David Cameron kick starts South East Asia tour with Indonesia: talks trade and ISIS threat
