Fishery SOEs can collaborate with fishermen’s organization by purchasing their catch
Jakarta (ANTARA) - State-owned fishery companies should intensify collaboration with local fishermen to boost their prosperity, marine observer and Executive Director of the Center for Maritime Studies for Humanity Abdul Halim stated.

"Fishery SOE can collaborate with fishermen’s organization by purchasing their catch," Halim noted here on Tuesday.

After purchasing the fishermen's catch, SOE can process and sell them, Halim remarked.

The marine observer suggested that once the local consumers’ food requirements were met, the surplus commodity can be exported to various countries abroad.

State-owned firms should also ensure all requisite facilities for meeting the fishermen's production requirements, including the availability of SPDN or Solar Pack Dealer Nelayan, used to supply subsidized diesel fuel to fishermen, he said.

Earlier, Minister of State Enterprises Erick Thohir had instructed SOEs to assist fishermen to improve their standard of living.

The minister believes that to build food resilience, especially in Indonesia's fishery sector, state enterprises should contribute the best they can for fishermen.

Problems concerning expensive fuel costs, capital, and distribution should be addressed to boost the fishermen's prosperity, according to Thohir.

While visiting the fishermen’s village in Nambangan, Surabaya, East Java, on Sunday, Thohir highlighted several steps that his ministry had planned in order to assist fishermen, including establishing Pertashop in Nambangan to provide diesel fuel to fishermen as well as fuel oil for other vehicles.

The other step involves seeking the support of State-owned Banks Association (Himbara) and state-owned financing company PT Permodalan Nasional Madani (PNM) to provide capital to fishermen, he noted.

Thohir plans to hold discussions with other ministries for the distribution of assistance.

For marketing assistance, Thohir urged fishermen to join Indonesia's Traditional Fishermen Association (KNTI), so that the millennial and technology-adept fishermen can stand to benefit from digital marketing.

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Translator: Razi Rahman, Fadhli R
Editor: Sri Haryati
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