Remarks of President of the Republic of Indonesia at the Inauguration of Saline Tilapia Cultivation Model in Karawang Regency, West Java Province, May 8, 2024

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim.
Assalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh.
Good morning,
Peace and prosperity be upon us.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Earlier, Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries informed me about the shrimp ponds in the northern coastal part of Java island that have long been abandoned, idle. There is no activity there. There are 78,000 hectares from Serang to Banyuwangi regencies, from Banten to Central Java to East Java provinces. Seventy-eight thousand [hectares] of ponds are in an idle condition.

Because shrimp ponds are no longer feasible, we will now focus on preparing for the most viable option, which is tilapia given its high demand in the global market. By 2024, the market for tilapia is projected to be worth USD14.4 billion, or approximately Rp230 trillion, which is a significant amount. Therefore, we must take advantage of this high demand. However, we should not immediately scale up production to a large project. I agree that a model should be developed first. Once the proper model is in place, [the production capacity] is expected to increase from 0.6 tons per hectare to 80 tons per hectare.

And, in turn, it will generate a very large number of jobs. Earlier, the Minister and the Director-General said that 78,000 hectares would require approximately Rp13 trillion. I said that if Rp13 trillion from Banten to East Java, from Serang to Banyuwangi can all be done, I think it will generate a very large workforce, providing a significant number of jobs. I believe Rp13 trillion is not a substantial amount of money.

So, we will monitor this first. If it is very feasible, I will prepare it in the 2025-2026 State Budget and propose it to the new administration, to the president-elect, so that this big dream can be fully realized.

That concludes my remarks. And, by saying bismillahirrahmanirrahim, I hereby inaugurate the Saline Tilapia Cultivation Model at the Aquaculture Production Business Service Center in Karawang regency, West Java province.

Thank you.
Wassalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh.

(FI/MUR)