REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- North Sulawesi Governor S.H. Sarundajang has launched a book titled, "Blue Economy, The Future of Indonesia," that contains ideas pertaining to the changes in the national development paradigm from land to marine.
"Indonesia needs to change its national development paradigm to shift its current focus from the inland sectors to the marine sector," he stated here on Wednesday.
The 150-page book elaborates the concept of blue economy that encourages the implementation of sustainable development and the growth in the marine and fishery industries.
"The blue economy concept emphasizes on economic growth, employment creation, and environmentally friendly technological innovations," the governor noted.
According to Sarundajang, there are five key principles to successfully achieve marine-based development, which have to be simultaneously implemented.
"They are Ocean Blue Economy, Ocean Governance Policy, Ocean Environmental Policy, Ocean Maritime Cultural Policy, and Ocean Maritime Security Policy," he stated, adding that blue economy is the solution to changing the global economic approach that tends to exploit the environment, including the marine ecosystem.
He was optimistic that the government will implement the blue economy concept as the main pillar to boost economic growth by prioritizing the marine sector in their national development programs.
"Due to its location between the two oceans, Indian and Pacific, it is not too much to say that one day Indonesia will be 'the Pacific Sovereign'," Sarundajang added.