NOAA's Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research

Indonesian Delegation Visit NOAA Silver Spring Headquarters

Dr. Spinrad and Dr. Pratikto, close the two-day meeting with an exchange of gifts and gratitude at NOAA’s Silver Spring, Md., headquarters. (Feb. 4, 2009)

Dr. Spinrad and Dr. Pratikto, close the two-day meeting with an exchange of gifts and gratitude at NOAA’s Silver Spring, Md., headquarters. (Feb. 4, 2009)

Dr. Richard W. Spinrad, assistant administrator, NOAA Oceanic and Atmospheric Research, and Dr. Widi Agoes Pratikto, secretary general, Indonesian Ministry of Marine Affairs & Fisheries, participated in a high-level bilateral discussion between NOAA and MMAF since the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on Marine and Fisheries Science, Technology and Applications in September of 2007.

"The MOU has provided a mechanism for a fruitful partnership between our two organizations," said Dr. Spinrad. "This meeting continues our commitment towards strengthening capabilities and approaches to address pressing coastal and marine resource issues with our international partners and communities."

Among the ongoing joint and related NOAA-MMAF projects and programs discussed were plans to hold the first joint committee meeting of the NOAA-MMAF MOU in conjunction with the World Ocean Conference to be held in Manado, Indonesia in May 2009. The WOC will gather representatives from over 100 countries to discuss the impacts of climate change and its relation to our world's oceans. Bilateral meetings such as this are essential in building international partnerships to achieve NOAA's mission to "understand and predict changes in Earth's environment and conserve and manage coastal and marine resources to meet our Nation's economic, social, and environmental needs."

February 2009