During a meeting between Indonesia’s Marine Affairs and Fisheries Minister, Sakti Wahyu Trenggono and Singaporean Ambassador to Indonesia Kwok Fook Seng in Jakarta, on Friday (22/11/24,) the two countries pledged to step up cooperation in the marine and fisheries sectors, including implementing blue economy programs, according to reporting from Antara News.
“We are genuinely determined to carry out the five blue economy programs, and Mr. Ambassador of Singapore will collaborate with Indonesia in various fields,” Trenggono said in KKP’s statement received by Antara News on Saturday (23/11/24.)
Indonesia’s five blue economy programs refer to the expansion of marine conservation areas, quota-based measured fishing, sustainable cultivation of aquatic resources, management and surveillance of coastal areas and small islands, and fishermen’s participation in marine plastic waste reduction.
The minister expressed optimism that the two countries would be able to tighten their bond by jointly capitalizing on fishery resources, considering that the value of Indonesia’s export of marine products to Singapore stood at USD 113.4 million last year, adding that Indonesia has taken various measures to advance and sustain its fishery sector, including by promoting the implementation of measured fishing in its eastern waters, says Antara News.
He also said that the KKP has built sustainable farming modeling projects for Indonesia’s featured export marine commodities: shrimps, seaweed, Tilapia fish, and lobsters.
Trenggono went on to highlight that his office plans to revitalize thousands of hectares of idle ponds along the northern coast of Java Island next year, with a special focus on Tilapia cultivation.
Antara News says that the world market value of Tilapia is believed to be USD 14.46 billion in 2024 and is projected to rise to USD 23.02 billion by 2034.
Drawing attention to the marine sector, the minister noted that the KKP has been striving to expand Indonesia’s marine conservation zone, rehabilitate coral reefs, improve the arrangement of submarine cables and pipes, and clean up plastic waste in the sea.
He explained that the measures aim to ensure the sustainability of the marine ecosystem and stimulate growth in the economy of the people and the state, says Antara News.
Ambassador Kwook, for his part, affirmed that Singapore is ready to assist the KKP in implementing its five blue economy programs to boost the economic growth rate in tandem with preserving the marine ecosystem and is keen to help Indonesia in marine resource cultivation, marine conservation area expansion, and marine plastic waste reduction.
Source: Antara News
Stock photo by Gilberto Olimpio on Pexels
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