IndonesianTalk.com-– Indonesian Senate Speaker Sultan Najamudin awarded honorary doctorate in Busan
BUSAN — Speaker of Indonesia’s Regional Representative Council (DPD), Sultan Baktiar Najamudin, was conferred an honorary doctorate (Doctor Honoris Causa) in International Regional Studies by Korea Maritime and Ocean University (KMOU) on Wednesday.
The conferment ceremony took place at Kim Kang-hee Hall in the KMOU Library, located in Yeongdo-gu district, Busan, South Korea. The event was presided over by KMOU President Ryoo Dong-keun and attended by members of the academic community and invited guests.
Among those present was promoter Kim Soo-il of Busan University of Foreign Studies.
KMOU stated that the honor marks only the second time the institution has awarded an honorary doctorate to an Indonesian figure. Indonesia’s fifth president, Megawati Soekarnoputri, previously received a similar distinction in 2015.
Ryoo said Sultan’s visit to KMOU carried two main agendas: the conferment of the honorary degree and the launch of the Korea–Indonesia Maritime Cooperation Forum in Busan, in collaboration with the Korea Offshore Plant Service Industry Association.
“Cooperation with Indonesia is a key pillar of KMOU’s internationalization strategy in leading the global maritime era,” Ryoo said in an official statement on Wednesday.
Kim Soo-il added that the honorary degree was awarded in recognition of Sultan’s contributions to advancing international maritime-based cooperation, as well as his advocacy for the development of archipelagic regions and coastal communities.
In his acceptance speech, Sultan underscored the strategic role of the ocean as a connector of civilizations and a foundation for global cooperation.
“The sea is not merely a geographical space, but a bridge that connects nations through collaboration, innovation and sustainability,” he said.
He also emphasized the importance of international cooperation that goes beyond economic growth to include environmental sustainability and social equity, in line with the principles of the green and blue economy.
Sultan expressed his appreciation to KMOU for its contributions to global maritime research.
“For Indonesia, this is strategic, as we are an archipelagic nation that relies on maritime science and technology,” he said.
On the domestic front, Sultan highlighted the need to strengthen the role of regions in national development. He called for the acceleration of deliberations on the Archipelagic Regions Bill, which he said would provide a policy framework supportive of island regions and coastal communities.
According to Sultan, the honorary degree also carries a moral responsibility to further strengthen bilateral ties between Indonesia and South Korea, as well as to promote more concrete and sustainable economic cooperation.
