REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, PALU -- Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Sharif Cicip Sutardjo has said Indonesia's marine sector's potential could reach Rp3,000 trillion a year.
"If the potential is maximally exploited, it will have a big impact and support Indonesia in becoming a maritime country," the Minister stated at the opening of a National Archipelago Day exhibition on Wednesday.
He further said that Indonesia had been recognized as a country with big potential for its marine sector.
The Minister pointed out that Indonesia was strategically positioned as it facilitated 40 percent of the world trade traffic lanes.
Other factors that favored Indonesia were its rich natural resources supported by exclusive economic zones, additional zones and territorial zones. After all, two-thirds of its territories are located in water areas.
Currently, Indonesia is active in ten potentially rich marine economic sectors, namely catch fishing, cultured fishing, the fish processing industry, the marine biotechnology industry, energy and mineral resources and marine tourism.
It also has enormous potential for growing sea transportation, industry and maritime services, small island resources and non-conventional marine resources.
Sharif stated that Indonesia's fishery production in 2012 had reached 15.9 million tons, which could support the country's national food resilience in the fisheries sector.
He expressed hope that the exhibition would further boost economic growth in Central Sulawesi.
Meanwhile, the Ministry Maritime Affairs and Fisheries have exceeded its targets in a number of sectors. Fisheries production in 2012 was pegged at 15.3 million tons and fisheries exports reached US$4 billion.
The Ministry had set a fish production target for 2011 at 12.26 million tons - an increase of 13 percent from the 2009 production of 10.85 million tons.
According to data at the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin), Indonesia's fishery exports in 2010 stood at US$2.86 billion. These rose to US$3.52 billion in 2011 and US$3.85 billion in 2012.
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