Warsaw, Poland, Sept. 5, 2013 (ANTARA) - The partnership between both countries' Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (MMAF) has already been intertwined since 2009. Indonesia and Poland has a common characteristic in the fishery management, the small-scale fishery (artisanal). "Poland is a highly-reputed country in the marine and fishery sectors. Since they implement the world's best fishery application, the sonar application, the Indonesia's MMAF has sealed Poland as the strategic partner in terms of the fish marketing in the Eastern Europe. This was conveyed by the Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, Sharif C. Sutardjo, during the bilateral meeting between the government of Republic of Indonesia and Republic of Poland in Warsaw, Poland, on September 4.

The meeting attended by both countries' presidents, Bronislaw Komorowska and Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono also resulted a Memorandum of Agreement (MoU) consisted of three agreements related to the marine and fishery partnership; the advancement of the fishery trade and investment; the institutional and human resources development, including the exchange of scientist and experts, to realize the sustainable fishery management; and the improvement of fishery product marketing, including the postharvest development. "We've shared each other's outlook about our common interest in the marine affairs and fisheries," said Sharif.

Sharif continued, the marine and fishery partnership will benefit both countries' economic development. Both countries can share experience and expertise on how to realize a sustainable fishery management, as well as promoting fishery products. Let alone the Polish fish processing sector is one of the most advanced sectors in the country, making it the country's fastest-growing food industry. "I would like to cordially invite the Polish private sectors to invest in Indonesian fishery industry, especially in the fish processing industry. In this occasion, I’d like to encourage both countries' ministries to follow up the MoU by composing a framework and conducting a number of intensive dialogues in order to strengthen the fishery partnership, either between the government and the private sectors," stated the Ministry.

Sharif added, since Indonesia applies the blue economy marine and fishery development, thus Indonesia will maximize the sustainable environmental and economic values. Given the blue economy is a new approach in the sustainable marine and fishery development, its implementation in the industrialization of marine and fishery is vital to replace the environment-damaging conventional industrialization way which also to minimize the inducement of the social gap in the community. The blue economy concept is also expected to be able to boost the efficient, zero-waste utilization of the natural resources as well as multiplying the economic benefits, providing much more employments and improving the community's income. "I hope that both countries can conduct a mutually beneficial partnership for the sake of the people's welfare. Indonesia is looking forward to having such partnership that benefits both countries' marine and fishery sector development," concluded Sharif.

For further information, please contact Anang Noegroho, Acting Head of Data, Statistic and Information Center, Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, Phone 0811806244

Editor: PR Wire
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