The Maritime Potential of ASEAN Economics

 GETTING READY

 Discuss the following questions with a partner.

1. Do you know our biggest maritime potential?

2. Do you think we have utilized our maritime potential?

3. What is the best way to utilize maritime potential?

READING TEXT

 Look for the title and any illustration on the text. Skim the question types. Skim the passage. 

In a global world economy countries have to strive to improve their1 competitive position versus each other by using their available resources. All nations and regions are endowed with resources that range from minerals, oil and arable land to cultural diversity and knowledge assets. These assets are unevenly distributed between countries that have made full or less than optimal use of these resources. Fortunately there is a trade-off: Nations without natural resources can compensate for this2 by using human resources, talents and knowledge to maintain and enhance economic and socio-political performance. Nevertheless the search for new resources is still on, and once resources are defined they3 can be classified as either optimally utilized, over- or underexploited. Another aspect would be sustainability. A short term economically “optimal” exploitation of a resource may lead to its4 extinction in the long-run. Over-exploitation of fisheries would be an often discussed example. Sustainable development rather than just optimization of resource exploitation needs to be emphasized. A new perspective would, however, be the search for resources that are not threatened by extinction through economically optimal exploitation. The search for renewable resources, like solar, wind or biologically renewable energies been one avenue, another less often discussed resource is location. Measuring the Maritime Potential Numerous ranking systems have been designed to show the relative position of countries either regionally or globally. The underlying values and indicators are diverse but combined into indices. They5 show whether a country holds a top position on dimensions like economic growth, good governance, human development, corruption, technology readiness or knowledge assets. These indicators are usually devised to monitor socio-economic trends, but are also used as planning instruments that provoke administrative action or monitor results of policy measures. The CenPRIS Ocean Index (COI) described in the following paragraphs is a combination of the Maritime Potential Index (MPI) and the Maritime Economy Index (MEI). It6 is designed to measure how much a nation has utilized its7 geographical location next to seas and oceans to develop a maritime economy.

The Maritime Potential Index (MPI) measures the geographical dimension of the natural resource “proximity to seas and oceans”. It8 shows the natural potential of a nation, state or region to make use of this resource. A landlocked state has no natural potential to use maritime resources, whereas the potential of an island state or a state with a long coast line should be very high. The Maritime Economy Index (MEI) combines various typically maritime industries like fisheries, shipping, ship building, harbours and other economic fields. Whether or not the potential is utilized is measured by the CenPRIS Ocean Index (COI). A less often discussed natural endowment consists of coasts and access to the world oceans. Nations with a long coastline will be in a better position to make use of maritime resources than countries with a short coast line, let alone land-locked countries. A long coast line offers the opportunity to engage in fishing, ship building, sea transport and other maritime industries. Its9 harbours facilitate international shipping, labour migration and the transfer of goods and knowledge. Location along an ocean and access to blue water, maritime ecology and marine bio-diversity are as much a natural resource as gold, copper or oil, but unlike other natural resources it10 is fairly stable, not easily depleted and therefore naturally sustainable. A look back in history shows that several great civilizations have been built on the advantages of a long coastline. The Roman Empire on Italy’s far-stretched peninsula as well as Great Britain with its11 island positions are civilizations that have made extensive use of their long coastlines and access to seas and oceans. The same holds true for Sumatran-based Srivijaya, and classical Melaka on the Malay Peninsula. (taken from Journal of Current Southeast Asian Affairs 1/2011: 117-124)

Answer these following questions based on the text

1. What is the main idea of the passage?

2. What do indices show in numerous ranking systems?

3. What is meant by The CenPRIS Ocean Index (COI)?

4. What does The Maritime Potential Index (MPI) measure?

5. What are the advantages of Nations with a long coastline?

6. How could maritime potential give benefit to several great civilizations in the past?

Find these words in the passage. Find their references and write your answer in the meaning column below

. No	Word		Paragraph	Meaning/Refers to
1		their1	1
2		this2	1
3		they3	2
4		its4	2
5		they5	3
6		It6	3
7		its7	3
8		It8	4
9		Its9	5
10		it10	5
11		its11	5