Jakarta, Oct. 15 -- Indonesia and Portugal have agreed to mutually recognize fishing vessel crew competency certificates, aiming to expand maritime employment opportunities and facilitate workforce mobility in line with international standards.

The agreement was signed during the Indonesia-Europe Business Forum (IEBF) 2026 in Portugal earlier this month, as Indonesia's Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries seeks to improve Indonesian fishing crew members' access to overseas jobs and competitiveness in the global labor market.

Marine Affairs and Fisheries Minister Sakti Wahyu Trenggono said in a statement issued in Jakarta on Wednesday that recognition of professional certifications needed to be expanded so Indonesian seafarers' quali...