The UK and Indonesia have agreed to launch a new Maritime Partnership Programme (MPP) that will enable Indonesia to build naval and fishing vessels using British shipbuilding expertise. The £4-billion ($5.2-billion) initiative was confirmed during a call between the British Prime Minister and Indonesian President and will be led by Babcock as the primary industrial partner. The program is a major component of the broader UK–Indonesia Strategic Partnership signed in November 2024.
Under the MPP, both nations will collaborate on advanced shipbuilding technologies, including automation, artificial intelligence, and modern production processes. Babcock will also facilitate partnerships between universities and training institutions in both countries to develop skills in precision engineering, digital ship design, and integrated naval systems—disciplines essential for Indonesia’s growing maritime sector.
All vessels under the program will be built in Indonesia, supporting the country’s domestic industrial base while sustaining engineering and design roles at Babcock’s Rosyth shipyard, Bristol facility, and Devonport dockyard. The initiative is expected to enhance Jakarta’s defense manufacturing capacity while strengthening the UK’s position as a leading global provider of naval engineering expertise.
British officials highlighted Indonesia’s importance as a close G20 partner, emphasizing that the MPP reinforces shared security goals and contributes to global maritime stability. The program also aligns with the UK’s Blue Planet Fund, aimed at helping developing nations protect marine ecosystems and reduce poverty—an objective that mirrors Indonesia’s focus on food security and safeguarding biodiversity across the world’s largest archipelagic nation.
