"We hope the development of the 15 outermost islands would be faster due to the issuance of the Inpres (presidential instruction)," Minister of Fisheries Susi Pudjiastuti said.
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesias outermost islands development is expected to speed up after of the Presidential Instruction Number 7 of 2016 was issued on the accelerated development of the fishery industry, Minister of Fisheries Susi Pudjiastuti said.

"We hope the development of the 15 outermost islands would be faster due to the issuance of the Inpres (presidential instruction)," she said at a press conference here on Friday.

Susi further stated that so far her office had been carrying out developmental efforts in the 16 outermost islands, five of which were covered in 2015 and 10 in 2016, adding that next year six more islands would be brought under the ambit of this development drive.

President Joko Widodo, according to her, has asked other ministries to help her in the development of 15 the outermost islands so as to transform them into integrated fishery centers.

"We hope the significant hike in cultured fishery production during the past two years will bring prosperity," Susi said, adding that integration would help develop better trading chains and market access.

The Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) has hailed the issuance of the Inpres in view of the fact that development of the fishery sector has not been optimal so far.

"We welcome the Inpres. The President perhaps felt the fishery sectors development has not been optimal," Kadins Deputy Chairman for Fishery and Marine Resources, Yugi Prayanto, said here on Thursday.

He made the statement after the Inpres was signed by President Joko Widodo on August 22 to accelerate the development of the fishery industry and to improve the welfare of the people, including fishermen, fish farmers, people involved in the processing and marketing of fishery products, as well as increasing employment and foreign exchange income.

The Inpres was distributed among 25 officials, including the Coordinating Minister for Political, Security and Legal Affairs, Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture, Ministers of Transportation, Foreign Affairs, Finance, Home Affairs, Industry, Trade and Energy and Mineral Resources.

Other ministers include Ministers of Public Works, State Enterprises, Research and Technology, Fisheries and Marine Resources, Cooperatives and Small Businesses, the Commander of the Indonesia Defense Forces, the Chief of the National Police, the Attorney General, the Chief of Bakamla (sea security), the Chief of BKPM (Investment Coordinating Board), provincial governors and district heads/city mayors.

The president has directed them to take coordinated and integrated steps in line with their respective tasks, functions and authority to speed up the national fishery industrys development.

In particular, President Widodo has instructed Minister Susi to review the regulations that have hindered the development of catch fishing and fish culture development, processing and domestic marketing, exports of fishery products and national salt pond development.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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