Jakarta (ANTARA) – Maritime cooperation between the UK and Indonesia to construct fishing vessels is estimated to employ up to 600,000 Indonesian workers.Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya announced that the partnership was a key feature of bilateral talks between President Prabowo Subianto and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer at 10 Downing Street on Tuesday, Jan.20.”The maritime cooperation is in the construction of 1,582 fishing vessels. According to the Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, it will employ around 600,000 people,” Wijaya said in a statement delivered at London Stansted Airport, England, on Wednesday, Jan. 21.Citing Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, Sakti Wahyu Trenggono, Wijaya noted the commitment includes 30,000 ship crew members and 400,000 workers for domestic ship production, with another 170,000 jobs created through the multiplier effect.”The ships will be produced and assembled in Indonesia,” Wijaya added.The Maritime Partnership Programme (MPP) aims to develop Indonesia's maritime capabilities such as increasing the capacity of the Indonesian Navy and procuring more than 1,000 fishing fleets to support national food security.This partnership is expected to open new investment opportunities in the shipbuilding industry, help revitalize fishing communities, and strengthen national maritime defense and security.President Prabowo welcomed the agreement, calling it a crucial element for Indonesia's maritime economy. “We are very satisfied with the maritime partnership. I believe it will be an important part of the development of our maritime economy,” Prabowo stated.