Indonesia now had 92 outlying islets of which 31 were inhabited, the ministry`s director general of maritime affairs, coastal areas and islets, Sudirman Saad said here on Monday.
The islets had large natural resources which served as development asset. However, they lacked human resources to develop the natural resources, he said.
"In general, the outlying islets lag behind other parts of the country in terms of infrastructures," he said at a function marking the signing of a cooperation agreement between the ministry and Hasanuddin University on development of Sebatik island off the eastern coast of Kalimantan island.
To that end, he said the ministry would team up with institutes of higher learning to speed up the development of the outlying islets, particularly the inhabited islets bordering other countries in a comprehensive and integrated manner.
The 12 islets are Sebatik, Nusakambangan, Miangas, Marore, Marampit, Lingayan, Maratua, Wetar, Alor, Enggano, Simuk and Dubi Kecil.
He said the government would gradually develop 92 islets across the country until 2014. (*)
Editor: Kunto Wibisono
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