It should not happen that we as a nation have been given by God abundant natural resources but we cannot utilize them."Palu, Central Sulawesi (ANTARA News) - Vice President Boediono said Indonesias marine potential had not yet maximally exploited as a source for national economy.
"It should not happen that we as a nation have been given by God abundant natural resources but we cannot utilize them," Boediono said during the commemoration of Archipelago Day 2013 here on Sunday.
The vice president said the marine potential came from the sea transportation sector, maritime industry, marine energy and mineral resources and marine services.
He said that Indonesia was the worlds biggest islands nation with diverse marine potentials.
According to the vice president, the sovereignty of a nation is inseparable from its economic sovereignty so that Indonesia should optimize the use of its potentials.
He said the national development paradigm was still oriented to the main land.
Therefore, the vice president called on the Marine Resources and Fisheries Ministry to resume the development of cultured marine fishing, fish processing industry, marine bio-technology and control of catch fishing across the countrys sea waters.
He also called for further promotion of the blue economy concept to encourage the development of innovative small industry, tourism and cottage industry which involved low-income people.
Boediono arrived in the Central Sulawesi provincial capital of Palu on Sunday to attend the peak commemoration of the Archipelago Day 2013.
The vice president in the company of his wife Herawati Boediono arrived at the venue of the event which took place on the citys Talise Beach at 10.10 a.m. local time.
A number of ministers, including Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy Mari Elka Pangestu, Marine Affairs and Fisheries Minister Sharif Cicip Soetardjo, Transportation Minister EE Mangindaan and Public Works Minister Djoko Kirmanto were also present.
Also attending the event were a number of governors, kings and sultans from various parts of the country.
Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy Mari Elka Pangestu in the capacity as chief of the events organizing committee reminded the nation of the need to benefit from the countrys marine potentials in a sustainable way for the sake of the peoples welfare.
During the commemoration of the Archipelago Day, the vice president will also inaugurate a number of development projects carried out under the Master Plan for the Acceleration and Expansion of Indonesian Economic Development (MP3EI) program.
The projects include a liquefied natural gas refinery owned by PT. Donggi-Senoro at Banggai and a hydro power plant with a capacity of 180 megawatts.
Boediono will also confer awards on a number of governors and district heads in recognition of their services in the development of the marine sector.
(Uu.A014/S012)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2013
