Graeme Downie, the Labour MP for Dunfermline and Dollar, has welcomed the £4 billion maritime partnership agreed between the UK and Indonesia, which the government says will secure around 1000 British jobs, with most based at the Rosyth dockyard in Fife, the UK Defence Journal understands.
According to the announcement, the agreement was confirmed during discussions between Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto at the G20 summit in South Africa.
The Maritime Partnership Programme will be led by Babcock, which operates the Rosyth site, and will see the UK and Indonesia jointly develop maritime capability for Indonesia’s navy as well as more than 1000 vessels for Indonesia’s fishing fleets. Government documents link this to Indonesia’s intention to increase seafood consumption and strengthen food security while supporting its fishing communities.
The programme involves constructing vessels in Indonesia using British shipbuilding expertise while providing design, engineering and support work in the UK. Officials estimate that the majority of the associated 1000 UK jobs will be located at Rosyth, with further roles at Babcock facilities in Bristol and Devonport. Ministers describe the deal as aligning with Indonesia’s ambition to expand food production while protecting marine biodiversity, supported in part by the UK’s Blue Planet Fund.
Downie linked the announcement to other recent international contracts involving UK maritime and defence exports. The government cites its recent 10 billion pound agreement with Norway on anti-submarine warfare destroyers, which it says supports 4000 UK jobs, and an 8 billion pound agreement with Türkiye for Typhoon fighter jets, which it says secures a further 20,000 roles.
Downie characterised the Indonesia deal as consistent with that trajectory. Downie said in the release “This is yet another example of the UK government achieving deals around the world that protect and grow high skilled jobs in Scotland.” He added “I am delighted to hear of this £4bn agreement between the UK and Indonesian governments that will secure 1000 jobs in the UK, with the majority of them at the Rosyth dockyard in my constituency.”
He also highlighted the contribution of the Rosyth workforce. Downie said “This is a huge achievement by the workforce at Rosyth and shows their skills and expertise is in demand across the world. That is Fife and Scottish knowledge and ingenuity being used to solve global problems.”
There’s something fishy about this deal.
Sparks might fly when module fabrication starts in Indonesia?
Joking apart I can see that happening with workers trained at Rosyth.
Getting the sticker price of A140 derivatives down is big issue….for RN in particular…..only way to do that is to use cheaper labour/facilities/energy. Which still leaves the cost of the fitout which is the real stumbling block.