President Jokowi Asks Gorontalo to Focus on Developing Agriculture and Fishery Sectors

Governor of Gorontalo Rusli Habibie (wearing a cap) attends a limited meeting led by President Jokowi, at the Presidential Office, Jakarta, Tuesday (6/6) afternoon (Photo: JAY/PR)

President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo admitted that Gorontalo Province is able to grow rapidly since in 2016, its growth rate reached 6.52 percent, higher than the rate of national growth.

However, the President reminded that this hight rate is still not enough because based on the data, the percentage of underprivileged people in this Province is still high i.e. 17.63 percent, higher than the national rate.

To decrease the rate, according to the President, Gorontalo Province can focus on developing agriculture, fishery, and forestry sectors which do not only become the motor of economic growth in Gorontalo, but also gives big contribution to employment absorption.

“I also see that Gorontalo has centers of production of superior commodities in agriculture sector, such as rice, corn, coconut, copra, cacao, and also sugar cane,” the President said.

The President also emphasized on the importance to give special attention to the effort to create added value by developing manufacturing industry for agriculture and fishery sectors.

Therefore, the President asked to prepare supporting infrastructure development for downstream industry, such as transportation infrastructure, logistics warehouse equipped with cold storage, energy resources, and clean water supply, that must be accelerated.

The limited meeting was attended by Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Wiranto, Coordinating  Minister for the Economy Darmin Nasution, Minister of State Secretary Pratikno, Presidential Chief of Staff Teten Masduki, Minister of Education and Culture Muhadjir Effendy, Minister of Public Works and Public Housing Basuki Hadimuljono, Minister of Transportation Budi K. Sumadi, Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Ignasius Jonan, Minister of Communcation and Information Technology Rudiantara, Minister of Research and Technology and Higher Educaiton M. Nasir, Minister of Industry Airlangga Hartarto, Minister of Trade Enggartiasto Lukita, Minister of Social Affairs Khofifah Indar Parawansa, Minister of Agrarian and Spatial Planning/Head of National Land Agency Sofyan Djalil, Minister of Environment and Forestry Siti Nurbaya, Head of Coordinating Investment Board Thomas Lembong, and Governor of Gorontalo Rusli Habibie. (DND/FID/SM/JAY/ES) (MMB/YM/Naster)