The two parties found common ground during a meeting between Indonesian Marine Affairs and Fisheries Minister Sakti Wahyu Trenggono and Singaporean Ambassador to Indonesia Kwok Fook Seng at the former's office, Jakarta, on Friday (November 22) afternoon.
"We are genuinely determined to carry out the five blue economy programs, and Mr. Ambassador of Singapore will collaborate with Indonesia in various fields," Trenggono noted in KKP's statement received here on Saturday.
Indonesia's five blue economy programs refer to the expansion of marine conservation areas, quota-based measured fishing, sustainable cultivation of aquatic resources, management and surveillance of coastal areas and small islands, and fishermen's participation in marine plastic waste reduction.
The minister expressed optimism that the two countries would be able to tighten their bond by jointly capitalizing on fishery resources, considering that the value of Indonesia's export of marine products to Singapore stood at USD113.4 million last year.
Moreover, he stated that Indonesia has taken various measures to advance and sustain its fishery sector, including by promoting the implementation of measured fishing in its eastern waters.
Furthermore, he stated that the KKP has built sustainable farming modeling projects for Indonesia's featured export marine commodities: shrimps, seaweed, tilapia fish, and lobsters.
Trenggono went on to highlight that his office plans to revitalize thousands of hectares of idle ponds along the northern coast of Java Island next year, with a special focus on tilapia cultivation.
The world market value of Tilapia is believed to be USD14.46 billion in 2024 and is projected to hit USD23.02 billion by 2034.
Drawing attention to the marine sector, the minister noted that the KKP has been striving to expand Indonesia's marine conservation zone, rehabilitate coral reefs, improve the arrangement of submarine cables and pipes, and clean up plastic waste in the sea.
He explained that the measures aim to ensure the sustainability of the marine ecosystem and stimulate growth in the economy of the people and the state.
Ambassador Kwook, for his part, affirmed that Singapore is ready to assist the KKP in implementing its five blue economy programs to boost the economic growth rate in tandem with preserving the marine ecosystem.
Kwook said his country is keen to help Indonesia in marine resource cultivation, marine conservation area expansion, and marine plastic waste reduction.
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Translator: Muhammad H, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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