"The figure is around 40 percent of the national employment rate. In addition to labor, maritime sector could also contribute to US$1.4 trillion every year, or seven times the 2016 state budget," he stated in a maritime workshop at the Home Affairs Ministry in Jakarta on Thursday.
Maritime sector, if being managed properly using technology, would bring those benefits to Indonesia.
During the workshop, Dahuri encouraged provincial and city governments to look for ideas to increase revenue from maritime sector.
Dahuri, who served as Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister from 2001 to 2004, explained that the poverty rate in Indonesia, which is at 9.8 percent or around 25.9 million people, could be reduced if the country could utilize maritime sector as one of its economic pillars.
"If the economy is run by maritime sector, the problem of poverty in Indonesia can be resolved. Our position at the world economic ranking can rise from the 16th position," he added.
Based on the agency data, there are 11 sectors that can be developed in Indonesia, including capture fisheries, aquaculture, fishery product processing industries, biotechnology industry, mining and energy, marine tourism, sea transportation, maritime industries and services, small island resources, coastal forestry, as well as non-conventional resources.
Reporting by Roy Rosa Bachtiar
Editing by Yashinta Difa Pramudyani, Rahmad Nasution
Reporter: Antara
Editor: Andi Abdussalam
Copyright © ANTARA 2018
