"Development of outermost areas needs special addressing and should be given priority," the minister said in a news conference after a limited cabinet meeting led by President Jokowi on board a warship KRI Imam Bonjol sailing in the South China Sea on Thursday.
The visit to Natuna by President Jokowi and a number of cabinet ministers and security officials followed last weeks incident when an Indonesian warship seized a Chinese fishing boat found poaching in the Indonesian exclusive economic zone.
The boat one of a group of ten Chinese fishing vessels was stopped after the navy ship fired shots to the air and to the sea in front of the boat.
China protested and said a crewmen was injured but the Indonesian government denied the claim saying no one was injured.
Observers said the visit to Natuna was to emphasize Jakartas determination to protect the countrys sovereignty over Natuna water territory and control of its exclusive economic zone.
Retno said the sovereignty of the country in Natuna has to be protected.
She said Indonesia is a big country and seas make up two third of the territory.
"From the beginning the government of President Jokowi has shown greater attention to development of outer regions and this time it is the turn of the Natuna islands, which are among the countrys outermost regions," she said.
She said at the meeting , the president heard reports from his ministries about projects to be built and progress of projects under construction in Natuna.
Natuna is known to have one of the largest oil and gas reserves in the world and its sea fish riches have attracted foreign fishing boats to poach in its water.
"According to Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Sudirman Said, there are 16 offshore oil and gas blocks in Natuna and five of them have been in operation and the rest are in the process of development," Retno said.
Meanwhile Marine and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiati reported about development of integrated project in fishery sector in Natuna, she said.
Military Chief General Gatot Nurmantyo reported about plan to build defense system around Natuna.
Also attending the meting were Coordinating Minister for Law, Security and Political Affairs Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, Minister for National Development Planning Sofyan Djalil and Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung.
(Uu.H-ASG/O001)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2016
