The Norwegians have the experience, competency, and advanced technology to catch, breed, and export fish and fish products to various markets all over the world.
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The recent visit of Norwegian Crown Prince Hakoon Magnus and Crown Princess Mette-Marit - the first ever by a member of Norway`s royal family to Indonesia - has helped boost bilateral cooperation between the two countries in various fields such as deforestation, democracy, and fishery.

The Norwegian fishing industry is one of the world`s largest, and seafood is Norway`s third largest export item - after metal and oil and gas.

The Norwegians have the experience, competency, and advanced technology to catch, breed, and export fish and fish products to various markets all over the world.

Indonesia is a maritime country with over 17,500 islands. Its waters are abundant in fish, but the country`s marine fishing industry has not developed.

Therefore, Indonesia is keen to learn from Norway about ways to develop its fishery industry, particularly on how to use advanced technology and equipment to boost the sector.

The visit of the Norwegian Crown Prince provided the momentum to strengthen bilateral cooperation in fishery to support Indonesia`s food security program.

"Indonesia and Norway are exploring new ways to intensify and strengthen their cooperation in marine and fisheries development, as well as to take the bilateral relations to a higher level," Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Sharif Cicip Sutardjo said on Tuesday, after meeting with Norway`s Deputy Minister for Fishery and Coastal Affairs, Kristine Gramstad, in Jakarta.

He stated that Norway had been successful in developing its fisheries and marine industry in a sustainable manner.

"The country, for instance, has managed to generate electricity from sea currents," Sutardjo added.

Indonesia and Norway are keen to increase bilateral cooperation in joint research, pilot projects, information exchange, capacity building, and exchange of experts, officials and technical staff.

Sutardjo expressed hope that the bilateral cooperation between Indonesia and Norway would help boost food security in Indonesia.

"The Norwegian-Indonesian cooperation in the fisheries institutional capacity building covers four main aspects: strengthening and integration of institutions; fisheries resources and sustainable development studies; aquaculture innovation and development; and post-harvest development," he explained.

Minister Sutardjo also expressed his gratitude to the Norwegian government for establishing cooperation with Indonesia in the fisheries sector over the past three years.

"The cooperation project, which was completed this year, has clearly helped improve the knowledge and capability of the ministry`s personnel with regard to fisheries technology and research," the minister said.

Indonesia and Norway established bilateral cooperation in the fisheries sector in 2009, which included exchange of fisheries experts.

In October 2009, the two countries organized a seminar on "Aquaculture - Cooperation between Indonesia and Norway" in Jakarta, because Indonesia wanted to learn about aquaculture technology from Norway.

The then Indonesian fisheries minister, Fadel Muhammad, said during the opening of the seminar that Norway`s aquaculture technology "is the best in the world and Indonesia hopes to get access to the transfer of the technology"

Salmon imports

Although Indonesia is rich in seafood, its waters do not have salmon fish. The best quality salmons are found abundantly in Norway.

Many Indonesians are fond of salmons, so Indonesia`s salmon imports from Norway have increased in the past few years - from 400 tons in 2005 to an estimated 1,400 tons in 2015.

"Salmon has gained much popularity in Indonesia," said Christian Chramer, the director of Norwegian Seafood Council, in a press statement recently.

"Norwegian salmon is highly nutritious and has been served with Japanese dishes of sushi and sashimi," he noted.

As one of the world`s largest producers of salmon, Norway expects to develop a new market in Indonesia.

"Indonesia is a potential market of salmon from Norway. We wish to export the best quality salmon to Indonesia," Crown Prince Hakoon Magnus said during a visit to Yogyakarta in Central Java on Wednesday.

"Salmon is Norway`s biggest export commodity and I want to continue promoting it across the world so more and more people know about it," he explained.

Indonesia has also asked Norway to open its market for various fisheries commodities from Indonesian waters.

"We are urging Norway to open its market for fisheries commodities from Indonesia," said Saut Hutagalung, the Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry`s director general for fishery product marketing and processing, recently.

"Ornamental fish has so far been Indonesia`s main fisheries export item to Norway," he added.(*)

Reporter: Fardah
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2012