REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Marine Affairs and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti here on Thursday met several foreign ambassadors from the European Union, Asian, and South American countries, among others.

"I want to explain to them about the government's mission to transform Indonesia into a stronger maritime state as it has so far been known as an agricultural country," Minister Pudjiastuti remarked while addressing an International Relations/Donors Meeting at Mandarin Hotel here.

Ambassadors from Vietnam, Peru, Norway, Germany, Poland, South Africa, and Hungary, among others, took part in the meeting.

Pusdjiastuti noted that President Joko Widodo was keen to regain Indonesia's image as a maritime state.

She affirmed that in this regard, sustainability is the key to developing Indonesia as a maritime state and transforming it as the world's maritime axis in accordance with the government's vision.

"Sustainability is important because growth is not only for the current generation but also for hundreds of succeeding generations," she stressed.

After all, the minister emphasized that development in the maritime sector has relatively been neglected so far.

She pointed out that the huge influx of Rohingyas and Bangladeshis into Aceh was comparable to the arrivals of African immigrants in the European Union through the Mediterranean region.

"They come to seek a better life, which they could not get in their countries," she remarked.

Pudjiastuti emphasized that her side needed to take a cue from several Southeast Asian countries such as Singapore, Vietnam, and Thailand.

She noted that these countries have larger fishery exports as compared to Indonesia despite having smaller maritime territories.

Ikuti Whatsapp Channel Republika