Jakarta (ANTARA) - Marine and fisheries startups must continue to innovate and buck the current trend of mass job terminations that is being witnessed in startups in other sectors, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Sakti Wahyu Trenggono has said.

"I hope that the news of massive termination of employment does not happen to startups in the maritime and fisheries sector," Trenggono remarked at the "Fisheries Millennial Startup Expo 2022" here on Monday.

He said that he hopes there won’t be mass firings because the marine and fisheries sector in Indonesia has “unlimited” potential.

Trenggono then invited millennials to continue to innovate to advance Indonesia's marine and fisheries sector considering its large business opportunities.

"I hope that this activity will initiate the growth of creative and innovative fisheries startups in Indonesia. Of course, it (must) grow evenly, from upstream to downstream to those engaged in supporting technology," he said.

The "Fisheries Millennial Startup Expo 2022" involved up to 24 startups and 17 MSMEs (micro, small, and medium enterprises) from the marine and fisheries sector.

Speaking at the event, Trenggono highlighted that the business opportunities in the fisheries sector are wide open because the global market demand is very high.

He pointed out that the business lines from the upstream to downstream sectors also vary, from fishing, cultivation, marketing, processing, to supporting technology.

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Meanwhile, the ministry has priority programs in the wild fisheries and aquaculture sub-sectors that can be utilized by the younger generation to start and develop businesses.

"The business onward, starting from upstream to downstream, must be really maintained, like how technology can help ensure that upstream to downstream is safe," Trenggono said.

The expo aimed to serve as a platform for millennials and fisheries startups to expand their businesses through partnerships and investments with business actors and potential investors, director general of strengthening the competitiveness of marine and fishery products at the ministry, Artati Widiarti, said.

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Translator: M Rahman, Kenzu T
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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